Pennsylvania - How to obtain a Death Certificate
ProcedureEdit
- In Person
You may go with complete application form, required fees and documents to the following nearest locations Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton.
- By Mail
- Download and completely fill out request form
- Make checks and/or money order payable to " Vital Records Service " and photocopy of valid photo ID
- Provide a self-addressed stamped envelope. Print or type your name and address on the envelope using all caps.
- Mail completed request form to:
- Division of Vital Records
- ATTN: Death Unit
- 101 South Mercer Street
- Central Building, Room 401
- P.O. Box 1528
- New Castle, PA 16103
- Apply Online (VitalChek)
- It's the easiest and most efficient method for ordering official death certificates and other vital records because there is less room for error when you enter the information yourself. Our simple forms have built-in editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
Order official, certified death certificates from Oklahoma Vital Records online quickly and securely
- VitalChek is an official service, authorized by Pennsylvania Vital Records, to securely order certified Pennsylvania vital records, like birth and death certificates. Other online services may not be authorized by Pennsylvania Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
- As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas No.1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as Pennsylvania death certificates, simple, fast and secure:
- Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
- Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
- Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
- VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering Pennsylvania birth certificates for yourself or your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.
Required DocumentsEdit
- Valid government issued photo ID that verifies name and mailing address as listed in Part 2 in application form
- State issued drivers license or non-driver photo ID (if address has been changed, include copy of update card).
- If you do not have acceptable photo identification, an eligible requestor possessing government issued photo ID may apply. If an eligible requestor is unable to apply, you may submit a completed Statement from Requestors Not Possessing Acceptable Government-Issued Photo ID with two documents verifying your current address.
Office Locations & ContactsEdit
- In person
- Erie Public Office
- Division of Vital Records
- 1910 West 26th Street
- Erie, PA 16508-1148
- (814) 871-4261
- Office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays.
- Harrisburg Public Office
- Division of Vital Records
- Forum Place
- 555 Walnut Street, First Floor
- Harrisburg, PA 17101-1914
- (717) 772-3480
- Office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays
- New Castle Public Office
- Division of Vital Records
- Room 401 Central Building
- 101 South Mercer Street
- New Castle, PA 16101
- 1-877-PA-HEALTH or (724) 656-3100
- Office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays
- Philadelphia Public Office
- Division of Vital Records
- 110 North 8 th Street; Suite 108
- Philadelphia, PA 19107-2412
- (215) 560-3054
- Office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays
- Pittsburgh Public Office
- Division of Vital Records
- 411 7th Avenue, Suite 360
- Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1973
- (412) 565-5113
- Office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays
- Scranton Public Office
- Division of Vital Records
- Room 112, Scranton State Office Building
- 100 Lackawanna Avenuee
- Scranton, PA 18503-1928
- (570) 963-4595
- Office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays
- By Mail
- Division of Vital Records
- ATTN: Death Unit
- 101 South Mercer Street
- Central Building, Room 401
- P.O. Box 1528
- New Castle, PA 16103
Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.
Adams County : 117 Baltimore St. Gettysburg, PA 17325-2391
Phone: 717-334-6781 Fax: 717-334-2091 Website
Allegheny County : 436 Grant St/ Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Website
Armstrong County : 450 Market St. Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: 724-543-2500 Website
Beaver County : 810 Third Street Beaver, PA 15009
Website
Bedford County : 200 S Juliana St. Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522-1714
Phone: 814-623-4812 Website
Berks County : 633 Court Street Reading, PA 19601
Website
Blair County : 423 Allegheny St. Hollidaysburg, PA 16648-2022
Phone: 814-693-3000 Website
Bradford County : Recorder's Office 301 Main St. Towanda, PA 18848
Phone: 570-265-1702 / Fax: 570-265-1721 Website
Bucks County : 55 East Court Street Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (Toll Free) 1-888-942-8257 (All other callers) 215-348-6000 Website
Butler County : 124 W. Diamond St. Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724-285-4731 / 724-284-5473 (TDD) Website
Cambria County : 200 South Center Street Ebensburg, PA 15931
Phone: 814-472-5440 Website
Cameron County : 20 E. Fifth St. Emporium, PA 15834
Phone: 814-486-2315 Website
Carbon County : 4 Broadway Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
Website
Centre County : Centre County Courthouse Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: 814-355-6727 Website
Chester County : 313 W. Market St. P.O. Box 2748 West Chester, PA 19380-0991
Phone: 610-344-6000 Website
Clarion County : 421 Main Street Clarion, PA 16214
Phone: 814-226-4000 Website
Clearfield County : 1 North Second Street Clearfield, PA 16830
Phone: 814-765-2641 Website
Clinton County : 232 East Main Street Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: 570-893-4000 Website
Columbia County : 35 West Main Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: 570-389-5600 Website
Crawford County : 903 Diamond Park Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: 814-333-7300 (toll free) 800-982-9019 Fax:
EligibilityEdit
Only certain people can request a death certificate. You must be:
- Legal representative of decedent's estate
- Immediate family member
- Extended family member who indicates a direct relationship to the decedent
- Power of Attorney (Please note that a Power of Attorney document is no longer valid upon the death of the individual)
FeesEdit
- In Person/By Mail
- Certified copy: $9.00
- Additional copies (each): $9.00
- Online (VitalChek)
- Certified copy: $9.00
- Additional copy: $9.00
ValidityEdit
Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid. e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever
Documents to UseEdit
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Sample DocumentsEdit
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Processing TimeEdit
Mail requests are processed in approximately fourteen weeks from the date of receipt
Related VideosEdit
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation. Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed. e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.
InstructionsEdit
- The Division of Vital Records maintains records of deaths that occurred from 1906 to the present.
- Certified copies of death certificates (with a raised seal) are issued and acceptable identification.
- A certified copy of a death certificate with a raised seal that can typically be used to obtain death benefits, Social Security benefits, estate settlement, insurance claims and for other legal purposes.
- Certified copies of death certificates are available for events that occurred within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1906 to the present.
- There are 3 ways to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate (1) By mail, (2) By online and (3) In Person.
- Check or money order should be made payable to Vital Records.
- Be sure to complete all required information on the application form
- Copies of Pennsylvania vital records may be obtained through VitalChek on an expedited basis.
- Pennsylvania Vital Records will only ship certified copies of Pennsylvania death certificates to the eligible applicant's verified credit card billing address (online).
Required InformationEdit
- Full name of person at Death on the Pennsylvania Death certificate
- Date of Death on the Pennsylvania Death certificate
- Sex on the Pennsylvania Death certificate
- County (or city) of Death on the Pennsylvania Death certificate
- Applicant name
- Applicant signature
- Applicant relationship to the person whose Pennsylvania Death certificate you are requesting
- Address where the Pennsylvania Death certificate is to be mailed
- Self addressed stamped envelope
- Applicant daytime phone number
Need for the DocumentEdit
If you want to obtain certified death certificate or if you would like to have an additional copy of certified death certificate you can obtain one with following the procedure given below.
Information which might helpEdit
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Other uses of the Document/CertificateEdit
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