How to Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania
To get a death certificate in Pennsylvania, order online through the state's portal, by mail, or in person at one of six Vital Records branch offices. Each copy costs $20 regardless of quantity, plus a $10 service fee for online orders. Online and paper orders take about 3 weeks, and in-person service is the fastest option.
How to get a death certificate in Pennsylvania is one of the more predictable processes in this guide: a flat $20 per copy, about three weeks by mail or online, and a clear in-person shortcut when you are in a hurry. The state also waives the fee for qualifying military families. This guide gives the official fees, times, and eligibility rules from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
How to get a death certificate in Pennsylvania online
Online orders run through the state’s portal at mycertificates.health.pa.gov, the only authorized online vendor for Pennsylvania vital records. The fee is $20 per copy, regardless of quantity, plus a $10 service fee for online orders. Payment is by credit card. The state’s published processing time for online death certificate orders is about 3 weeks, counted from the date the application is received, not including delivery time. Choose first-class mail or UPS shipping at checkout. Because the fee is deposited when your application arrives and is nonrefundable, check your details before submitting: a wrong date or misspelled name can cost you both the fee and the wait.
Ordering by mail
Paper applications go to the Division of Vital Records at the address printed on the application form. The fee is the same $20 per copy with no online service fee, paid by check or money order made payable to VITAL RECORDS. Cash is not accepted. Paper orders also take about 3 weeks from receipt, not counting delivery. If your request involves a subpoena, a court order, a power of attorney, or a genealogical search, expect additional processing time, since the department flags those cases for extra review. The same applies to requests to change a death record, which follow a separate process.
Ordering in person
If you need the certificate quickly, the department’s own advice is to make your request in person at one of the six Vital Records branch offices, or online. In-person service avoids the mail leg entirely and is the fastest way to get a copy in hand. Bring valid photo ID and proof of relationship or interest, plus payment. Branch office locations and hours are listed on the department site, so check before you travel.
Who can order
Pennsylvania limits death certificates to people with a connection to the record: immediate family members, legal representatives, and people with a direct financial interest. Attorneys or legal representatives of the estate, executors or administrators of the estate, and anyone claiming a direct financial interest must provide additional documents supporting their claim. All applicants must provide valid photo ID, and proof of relationship is required where the application asks for it. If you are ordering on behalf of an estate, have your letters testamentary or court appointment ready before you apply, since a missing document is the most common reason for a stalled request.
The military fee waiver
Pennsylvania waives the $20 certificate fee for qualifying military families under Act 137 of 2024. You qualify if you or your spouse, including a widow or widower who has not remarried, is in active service or was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and you are applying for your spouse’s certificate, on behalf of a dependent child of the person who died, or as the representative of the estate, with supporting documentation. The waiver is limited to ten copies per applicant per calendar year, and it covers the certificate fee only, not the $10 online service fee. If you qualify and need many copies, ordering by mail or in person avoids the service fee entirely.
Copies and timing tips
Because the fee is flat at $20 per copy with no quantity discount, there is no savings in ordering one copy at a time, and reordering later costs another $20 plus another three weeks. Count the agencies that will ask for a certified copy, banks, insurers, courts, benefits offices, and title transfers, and order the full set at once. And remember that processing time runs from receipt, not from mailing, so a paper application mailed on a Friday starts its three weeks when it arrives, not when you post it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pennsylvania death certificate cost?
Each death certificate costs $20, regardless of how many you order. Online orders add a $10 service fee. Fees are nonrefundable and are deposited when your application is received, even if the record cannot be found.
How long does a Pennsylvania death certificate take?
About 3 weeks for both online orders and paper applications mailed to the Division of Vital Records. Processing times run from the date the application is received and do not include delivery time. Genealogical requests, subpoenas, court orders, and powers of attorney can add time.
Can I get a Pennsylvania death certificate in person?
Yes, and the state recommends it if you need the certificate quickly. Make your request in person at one of the six Vital Records branch offices, or order online at the state's portal. In-person service avoids the mail wait entirely.
Who can order a Pennsylvania death certificate?
Immediate family members, legal representatives, and people with a direct financial interest in the record. Attorneys and executors or administrators of the estate must provide additional documents, as must anyone claiming a direct financial interest.
Is there a fee waiver for military families in Pennsylvania?
Yes, under Act 137 of 2024. The $20 fee is waived for a spouse, including a widow or widower who has not remarried, a dependent child, or an estate representative, when the applicant or spouse is in active service or was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The waiver covers up to 10 copies per applicant per calendar year and does not cover the online service fee.