How to Get a Massachusetts Death Certificate (2026)

Massachusetts death certificates are public records. You can order a certified copy from the city or town clerk where the death occurred or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Because the record is public, any member of the public may request one. The state Registry fee starts at $20 per copy in person, $32 per copy by standard mail, or $54 for the first copy when you order online or by phone through the state's vendor.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Massachusetts?

You get a Massachusetts death certificate from the city or town clerk where the death occurred, or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) in Dorchester. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner does not issue death certificates.

There are three main ways to request a certified copy.

Online

You can order online through the state's authorized vendor (VitalChek). Online and phone requests typically process in about 7 to 10 business days, with next-day expedited service available for an added fee.

By Mail

Send a completed vital records mail order form with a check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. Standard mail orders are processed and shipped within about 15 to 20 business days according to the Registry's published fee schedule, and the Registry's ordering page allows up to 30 business days from receipt, so plan for the longer window. To get your order in 7 to 10 business days, address the envelope to the attention of Expedited Mail Service.

In Person

You can order certified records in person at the Registry counter Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Payment is by check or money order using a secure drop box. Cash is not accepted at the Registry. You may also visit the clerk in the city or town where the death occurred.

Who Is Eligible to Request a Massachusetts Death Certificate?

Any member of the public may request a Massachusetts death certificate. Death certificates are public records in Massachusetts, so you do not need to prove a family relationship to obtain a certified copy.

This is different from some restricted birth or marriage records, where access can be limited. Because death records are open, the death certificate is available to anyone who pays the fee.

When ordering, you should still be prepared to show identification. Acceptable ID is preferably a driver's license (even if expired) or another government-issued photo ID.

Massachusetts Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

State Registry of Vital Records (RVRS) fees are $20 per copy if you order in person, $32 per copy by standard mail, and $42 per copy by expedited mail. When you order online or by phone through the state's vendor (VitalChek), the fee is $54 for the first copy and $42 for each additional copy, because the online price includes a vendor service charge. Expedited online or phone orders cost $62.50 for the first copy and $50.50 for each additional copy.

Online and phone orders generally ship within about 7 to 10 business days. The Registry's fee schedule says standard mail orders are processed and shipped within 15 to 20 business days of receipt, while its ordering page says mail orders will be processed within 30 business days, so treat 30 business days as the outer limit. Expedited mail orders are handled in about 10 business days. In-person counter requests are usually completed the same day if the record is on file.

The cheapest option is usually the Registry counter or your local clerk rather than the online vendor, whose price includes a service charge. Fees charged by a local city or town clerk may differ from the state Registry fee, so confirm the cost with the clerk where the death occurred before sending payment.

Certified vs Informational Copy in Massachusetts

Massachusetts issues a certified copy of the death certificate. A certified copy is the official document, printed on security paper, that you use to settle an estate, claim insurance or benefits, close accounts, and handle other legal matters.

Some states sell a cheaper informational copy stamped "informational, not for legal use." Massachusetts does not issue that kind of stamped copy, and the Registry states that only certified copies are issued regardless of intended use. State law does provide a narrower alternative: under M.G.L. c. 46, s. 19, a clerk, assistant clerk, or the registrar must, on request, furnish an abbreviated record, an abstract made without the name of the parent or parents unless the applicant asks for it. The statutory town clerk fee for an abstract copy of a record of death is $1, against $2 for a full certificate of death under M.G.L. c. 262, s. 34, though what a given city or town actually charges may differ. Because death certificates are public records here, the certified copy is the standard document you receive.

For most needs, including probate and benefits claims, you will want the certified copy.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

To get additional or replacement copies, place a new order through the same channels and pay the additional-copy fee. When ordering online or by phone through VitalChek, the vendor charges $42 for each additional copy in the same request, which is lower than the $54 first-copy fee. At the Registry counter every copy is a flat $20, and by standard mail every copy is a flat $32, with no separate additional-copy discount.

If you need a replacement later because a copy was lost or damaged, you order it as a new request. Many estates need several certified copies at once for banks, insurers, and government agencies, so it is often cheaper to request multiple copies in a single order.

The same eligibility rules apply to additional copies. Since death certificates are public records, you do not need special authorization to order more.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Vital records fees, processing times, and procedures change. Always confirm current requirements with the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics or the local city or town clerk before ordering.

Sources

This page is based on guidance from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health published on Mass.gov, together with the text of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Related: Massachusetts Death Records and Death Records by State.