Death certificate
How to get a death certificate
Certified death certificates are issued by the state vital-records office (and often the county where the death occurred). The funeral director usually orders copies for you. Order several certified originals — most banks, insurers, and agencies require an original, not a photocopy. Costs and ordering vary by state.
By state
For states not listed, see the CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records directory, or our what-to-do-when-someone-dies guide.