Where to Request a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania
You request a death certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records in Harrisburg. This is the only state office that issues certified copies. You cannot get one from your county, your funeral home, or a hospital — they can tell you where to send your request, but they cannot issue the certificate itself.
The Division of Vital Records handles all death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Pennsylvania, regardless of when they happened. If the death occurred before 1906, the process is different and slower; those records are held separately and take longer to retrieve.
You have three ways to request: by mail, in person at their office in Harrisburg, or through an authorized third-party vendor. Each method has different costs and timelines.
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania's Division of Vital Records in Harrisburg is the only office that issues death certificates, whether you request by mail, in person, or through a vendor.
- You will need the deceased person's full name, date of death, and place of death (city or county) to request a certificate.
- Mail requests typically take two to four weeks; in-person requests at the Harrisburg office can be completed the same day.
- You must show a valid reason for requesting the certificate — the office will ask what you need it for, and some reasons (like genealogy research) may be denied.
- Certified copies cost between $20 and $25 depending on how you request, and you should order multiple copies at once because reordering costs the same amount per certificate.
Requesting by Mail
To request by mail, send a letter to the Division of Vital Records with the deceased person's full name, date of death, city or county where the death occurred, and your relationship to the deceased. Include a photocopy of your ID and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash.
Address your request to:
Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records 101 South Merritt Boulevard P.O. Box 1528 Harrisburg, PA 17105-1528
Mail requests typically take two to four weeks from the time the office receives your letter. The office does not acknowledge receipt, so you will not hear back unless there is a problem with your request. If you do not receive the certificate within four weeks, call the Division at 717-787-3701 to check the status.
The fee for a certified copy by mail is $20. If you need multiple copies, order them all at once — each additional copy costs $20, so there is no savings by reordering later.
Requesting in Person in Harrisburg
If you can travel to Harrisburg, you can request a death certificate in person at the Division of Vital Records office. Bring the deceased person's full name, date of death, and place of death. Bring a valid photo ID and a check or money order for the fee. The office does not accept cash or credit cards.
The office is located at 101 South Merritt Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on state holidays. You do not need an appointment.
In-person requests are processed the same day if you arrive before 3:00 p.m. and the record is found without delay. If the death occurred before 1906 or if there is any issue locating the record, you will be told on the spot and given options for follow-up. A certified copy costs $25 when requested in person.
Using a Third-Party Vendor
Pennsylvania allows you to request a death certificate through authorized vendors such as VitalChek and eSpeed. These companies charge a service fee on top of the state fee — typically $15 to $30 extra — but they handle the paperwork and mail the certificate to you.
You order online through the vendor's website, provide the same information (deceased person's name, date of death, place of death), upload a photo of your ID, and pay by credit card. The vendor submits the request to the state on your behalf. Processing time is usually five to ten business days after the state receives the request, plus mailing time.
Vendors are useful if you do not have a check, do not want to mail documents, or need the certificate quickly. The total cost is higher, but the convenience may be worth it depending on your situation.
What You Need to Know About Proof of Relationship
Pennsylvania requires you to state your relationship to the deceased and your reason for requesting the certificate. The office will ask: Are you a family member, an attorney, a funeral home, or someone else? What do you need the certificate for — burial, insurance, inheritance, genealogy research?
Close relatives (spouse, parent, child, sibling) are rarely denied. More distant relatives or unrelated people may be asked for additional documentation. If you are requesting for genealogy research, the office may deny the request or issue a non-certified copy instead, which costs less but cannot be used for legal purposes like insurance claims or property transfer.
Be honest about your reason. The office does not investigate, but if your stated reason does not match your relationship, the request may be delayed while they verify.
Handling Deaths That Occurred Before 1906
Deaths recorded before 1906 are stored separately and take much longer to retrieve. The Division of Vital Records will attempt to locate the record, but it may not exist or may be incomplete. Processing time for pre-1906 deaths is typically six to eight weeks by mail.
If you are researching family history and need a pre-1906 death record, contact the Pennsylvania State Archives or the county where the death occurred — they may have copies or related documents that are faster to obtain. The Division of Vital Records can provide contact information for the relevant county office.
Ordering Multiple Copies at Once
Order all the copies you think you will need in a single request. Each certified copy costs the same amount ($20 by mail, $25 in person), so ordering five copies at once costs five times the per-copy fee, but reordering later costs the same. Most people need at least two or three copies for insurance companies, banks, and legal proceedings.
If you are unsure how many you need, ask the organizations that requested the certificate — banks, insurance companies, and courts often specify how many certified copies they require. Some will accept a single copy that you photocopy yourself for their records, while others require an original certified copy for each department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a death certificate if I am not related to the deceased?
Yes, but you must state your reason. Attorneys, funeral homes, and people handling the estate can request certificates. Genealogy researchers may be issued a non-certified copy instead of a certified one. The office decides based on your stated relationship and purpose.
What if the death certificate has an error on it?
Contact the Division of Vital Records and describe the error. You may need to provide documentation (a birth certificate, marriage license, or court order) to support a correction. Corrections can take several weeks and may require a fee.
How long does a death certificate stay valid?
A certified death certificate does not expire. However, some organizations (banks, insurance companies) may not accept a copy that is more than a few years old. If an organization rejects an older certificate, request a new one — it will be identical but dated more recently.
Can I request a death certificate if the person died out of state?
No. You must request it from the state where the death occurred. Contact that state's vital records office. If you do not know which state, the funeral home or the person's last known address can help you determine it.
What if I cannot find the death record?
Call the Division of Vital Records at 717-787-3701 and provide all the information you have — full name, approximate date of death, and place of death. The staff can search their database and tell you whether the record exists. If it does not, they can suggest alternatives like contacting the county or the funeral home that handled the arrangements.