Losing a loved one is one of life's most difficult experiences. Beyond the grief, there are important legal and financial matters that need to be taken care of. The most essential document needed in these matters is the death certificate.

Below, we explain how death certificates work in Pennsylvania and Delaware — including how much they cost and who can obtain them.

What is a Death Certificate?

A death certificate is a legal document issued by the state in which a person has passed away that confirms the death. It also includes vital information such as date, place, and cause of death.

Certified death certificate copies are needed for many administrative and financial tasks, such as settling estates, claiming life insurance benefits, and closing accounts. 

Costs of Death Certificates

*Your loved one's death certificate will be filed with the state in which they had passed away*

Pennsylvania

In PA, the fee structure is as follows:

- $20 per certified copy

- Online service fee: An additional $10 processing fee applies if ordering additional certificate at a later date on your own, through an online vendor such as VitalChek.

In PA, veterans are eligible for up to 10 free death certificates with the submission of a valid DD-214 that lists an Honorable Discharge  

Delaware

In DE, the fee structure is as follows:

- $25 per certified copy

- Some online third-party services may charge additional processing fees.  

In DE, veterans are not eligible for free death certificates. 

How Many Death Certificates Will I Need?

The number of certificates needed after a passing will differ from family to family.

Certified death certificates are needed for many post-death tasks, including:

- Filing life insurance claims

- Accessing bank and investment accounts

- Transferring or selling property

- Settling estates and filing probate documents

- Cancelling Social Security, Medicare, and other benefits

Because many institutions will keep the original certified copy, it’s usually recommended to order multiple up front. On average, most families find that between 5-10 copies is sufficient, however this will not be the case in every situation. 

Who Can Request Copies?

- We will not release a death certificate to any individual without first obtaining express permission from the informant listed on the original certificate.

- The informant is usually either the deceased's next of kin (most commonly spouse, parent, child, sibling) or a legal representative appointed by the deceased in life, such as an executor/executrix.

How We Can Help

During the arrangement conference, our funeral directors will take the time to go over all necessary vital statistics information for your loved one's death certificate.

We will carefully review all of this information with you and review spelling to ensure accurate certificates. 

For questions and concerns relating to death certificates, do not hesitate to reach out to our funeral directors at 610-444-4116.