In Colorado, certified death certificates are issued by Vital Records Section (Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The state fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $20 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Colorado
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy | $20 |
CDPHE fee schedule effective 1/1/2026: $25 first copy, $20 each additional copy ordered at the same time, $1 per year if the date is unknown. Credit card convenience fee applies. The CDC page still shows outdated $20/$13 fees.
Who can order a certified copy
Proof of relationship required. Eligible people include the spouse, parents or step-parents, adult children, siblings, legal guardian, and a legal representative of any of these (CDPHE ID and Eligibility Requirements, Oct 2024; the sheet says the full list is on the CDPHE website).
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- Online (official vendor: GoCertificates)
- In person
- County/local office
Birth and death certificates are also available from local (county) vital records offices.
How long it takes
CDPHE: "Normal processing time for online orders is thirty business days from the date received." The order page posts a live queue date; on 2026-09-24 it showed online orders received by 09/10/2026 and mail orders by 09/15/2026 being processed.
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The funeral home’s role
The office’s pages do not describe the funeral home’s role. Many families ask the funeral director to order the first copies when arrangements are made.
The state office is open by appointment only, with no walk-ins. State death records since 1900 (per CDC).
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Colorado
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Colorado.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Vital Records Section (Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Colorado)
- Vital Records Section (Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Vital Records Section (Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Vital Records Section (Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.