Death Certificates 

Agencies will only accept certified copies of death certificates and not photocopies.  Copies of certified death certificates can
be obtained by:

• Contacting the funeral home that filed the death certificate
  
• Pennsylvania Department of Vital Statistics, by visiting www.vitalcheck.com or by phone at 866-712-8238
  (credit cards accepted).
  
• You may order in person at a Pennsylvania Vital Records branch office in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia,
  Pittsburgh or Scranton. (Delivery ranges from same day to five days based on public office processing time.)
  
• You may order by mail: Send application, identification and payment to:
                                                                    Department of Health
                                                                   Division of Vital Records
                                                                   PO Box 1528
                                                                   New Castle, PA 16103           

Applications are available upon request at the funeral home.

• Certified copies are $20.00 each and only available locally up until 90 days from the date of death. 
• After 90 days the certificate is filed with the state of Pennsylvania and certified copies may take four to six weeks to obtain. 
  

ORGANIZATIONS REQUIRING A LEGAL COPY OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE.

• Bank accounts
• Certificates of Deposit
• Credit Unions
• Executor/Executrix of the estate to probate the will
• Federal, State and Estate Tax Returns
• Fraternal Organizations Burial Benefits
• Life Insurance Policies
• Motor Vehicle Bureau(MV-39 Notification of Assignment/Correction of vehicle title upon death of owner can be obtained by the funeral home and used in place of a certified death certificate.)
• Preneed Trust
• Pension Plans or IRA Funds
• Sale of jointly owned property
• Stocks, Bonds and Government Bonds
• Union Benefit Plans
• Veteran’s Benefits