Minnesota Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get Them

Minnesota is an open-record state for death records. Anyone may buy a noncertified (informational) copy of any Minnesota death record, but certified copies are restricted to family members and others with a documented legal interest. Because informational copies are open to the public, there is no waiting period for basic death-record access.

Are Death Records Public in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota is an open-record state for death records. Under Minnesota Statutes section 144.225, information contained in vital records is public, and anyone may purchase a noncertified (informational only) copy of a Minnesota death record.

The distinction in Minnesota is not who can see that a death occurred, but what kind of copy you can buy. Noncertified copies are open to the public. Certified copies, which carry legal weight for estate, insurance, and benefits purposes, are limited to people who have a tangible interest in the record.

Because the informational copy is public, Minnesota has no waiting period before basic death-record access opens up. This is different from states that seal full records for decades. For the bigger picture on how access varies, see Death Records by State.

Who Can Request a Minnesota Death Record?

Anyone can request a noncertified (informational) copy of a Minnesota death record. These copies are clearly marked "informational" and cannot be used to prove identity or settle an estate, but they are available to any member of the public.

Certified copies are different. The Minnesota Department of Health limits certified death certificates to people with a tangible interest in the record. According to the Department of Health, eligible requesters include:

• The decedent's spouse named on the record
• The decedent's child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild
• A legal representative, guardian, conservator, or health care agent
• A person administering the estate, including a successor or trustee
• A party with a documented legal need, or an attorney representing an eligible person
• A government agency carrying out official duties, or anyone with a valid court order

Every certified-copy requester must show identification and sign the application in front of a notary public or county vital records staff, attesting to their eligibility. If you do not have acceptable ID, a witness may complete a Statement to Identify form to swear to your identity.

How to Get a Minnesota Death Certificate

Minnesota death certificates are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Vital Records, and copies are also available from county vital records offices across the state.

You can request a record three ways:

• In person at a county vital records office. This is generally the fastest option.
• By mail or fax to the Office of Vital Records, PO Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499.
• Through the verify-a-death tool online for records from 1997 to the present, which confirms the fact of death.

A death certificate costs $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Copies requested for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are provided at no charge.

Processing times for mailed requests vary and can run several weeks, so the Department of Health publishes the dates it is currently working on. If you need a record quickly, in-person service at a county office or an expedited request is the better route. You can reach the Office of Vital Records at 651-201-5970 or health.vitalrecords@state.mn.us to confirm current timing and fees.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Minnesota?

The cause of death is printed on the Minnesota death record itself, so it is not governed by a separate cause-of-death statute the way some states handle it. Access depends on which copy you can obtain.

A noncertified, informational copy of a death record is public, and any member of the public may buy one. Because the cause of death is part of that record, the medical cause is effectively available to the public on informational copies.

If you need a certified copy that includes the full record for legal use, you must meet the tangible-interest eligibility rules described above. For a national overview of how states treat this question, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?. Related medical-finding documents are covered in Are Autopsies Public Records?.

How Far Back Do Minnesota Death Records Go?

The Minnesota Office of Vital Records holds statewide death records from 1908 to the present. Earlier records may exist at the county level, and historical records are also held by the Minnesota Historical Society for genealogical research.

For deaths before statewide registration, researchers often turn to county registers, church records, and cemetery records to fill gaps. Minnesota's open approach to informational copies makes older death records relatively accessible for family history work.

At the national level, there is no central federal death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that death records are issued and held by the states, not the federal government. The Social Security Administration maintains a Death Master File, but its public version excludes deaths within the most recent three calendar years under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. For a related document type, see Are Birth Certificates Public Records?.

Minnesota Death Records at a Glance

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about public-records access in Minnesota and is not legal advice. Eligibility rules, fees, and processing times change. Always confirm the current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Vital Records before relying on them.

Sources

This page is based on official Minnesota Department of Health Office of Vital Records guidance, Minnesota Statutes section 144.225, and federal records guidance from the CDC and Social Security Administration, all linked below.