How to Get a Pennsylvania Death Certificate (2026)

You get a Pennsylvania death certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Eligible family members and legal representatives may request a certified copy online, by mail, or in person. Each copy costs $20, and online orders add a $10 processing fee.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

You get a Pennsylvania death certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. The state, not the county, issues certified copies for deaths that occurred in Pennsylvania.

There are three ways to request a copy. Each method requires a completed application, valid identification, and the $20 fee per copy.

Order Online

You can order a death certificate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the state's only authorized vendor at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. The site is operated by VitalChek under contract with the Department of Health.

Online orders add a one-time $10 processing fee per order. The state warns that other online providers simply convert your order to a paper application, which can cause delays, so use the official link.

Order by Mail

To order by mail, complete the Application for a Death Certificate and send it with payment to the Division of Vital Records. The mailing address is the Death Certificate Processing Unit, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103.

Include a copy of your acceptable identification with your mailed application. Incomplete applications or missing ID will delay your request.

Order in Person

You may also request a copy in person at one of the six Vital Records branch offices located across Pennsylvania. Bring your completed application and valid photo ID.

In-person service is the fastest option, though same-day pickup is not guaranteed at every office.

Who Is Eligible to Request a Pennsylvania Death Certificate?

Only qualified applicants may obtain a certified Pennsylvania death certificate. You must be at least 18 years old and have a direct relationship to the deceased.

Eligible applicants include the spouse or former spouse, parents and stepparents, siblings, children and stepchildren, grandparents, and grandchildren. A power of attorney, an estate representative, or a person with a documented legal or financial interest may also qualify.

Extended family members may request a copy if they can document a direct relationship to the deceased. You will need to state your relationship and your reason for the request on the application.

Pennsylvania Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

A Pennsylvania death certificate costs $20 per copy. This price is the same whether you are ordering your first copy or several additional copies at the same time, so ten copies would cost $200.

Online orders add a single $10 processing fee on top of the per-copy cost. There is no separate volume discount for ordering multiple copies.

Processing takes about three weeks for both online and mailed applications, measured from when the Division of Vital Records receives a complete request. In-person requests are generally faster.

Active-duty and honorably discharged members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their spouses, may have the fee waived for up to ten copies per calendar year with supporting documentation.

Certified vs Informational Copy in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania issues certified death certificates carrying a raised, embossed state seal. A certified copy is the legal document needed to settle an estate, claim life insurance, close accounts, or transfer property.

Pennsylvania offers two versions of the certificate. One version includes the medical information, meaning the cause and manner of death. The other version omits the medical information and is available only for deaths that occurred after 2019.

The version without medical information functions as a privacy-protective certified copy for tasks that do not require cause-of-death details. Pennsylvania does not market a separate non-certified informational copy the way some states do, so for most uses you will receive a certified document.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

To get additional or replacement copies, you order them the same way you order the first copy: online, by mail, or in person. Each additional certified copy costs the same flat $20.

If you order several copies in a single application, list the total number you need so they are issued together. Ordering extra copies at the start is often easier than coming back later for estate and insurance tasks.

If a certificate is lost or damaged, simply place a new order; there is no separate replacement process or reduced fee. To check the status of a pending order, you can contact the Division of Vital Records.

Pennsylvania Death Certificate Facts

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about obtaining a Pennsylvania death certificate and is not legal advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and processing times can change. Always verify current requirements with the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records before submitting a request.

Sources

This page draws on the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records official guidance for death certificates.

Related: Pennsylvania Death Records and Death Records by State.