In Delaware, certified death certificates are issued by Office of Vital Statistics, Delaware Division of Public Health. The state fee is $25 for the first certified copy and the same 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 Delaware
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy | $25 |
$25 per certificate; part of the fee goes to the distressed cemetery fund. The fee is kept as a search fee if no record is found. Online vendors charge extra.
Who can order a certified copy
Per the application: current spouse, child, parent, other family members (proof of relationship required), legal guardian (court order), genealogists (proof required), and an authorized agent, attorney or legal representative of those persons.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- Online (official vendor: GoCertificates)
- In person
In-person service is at three state OVS offices (Newark, Dover, Georgetown), not county offices.
How long it takes
The office does not publish a processing time. Ask when you order, especially if an insurer or bank is waiting.
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The funeral home’s role
Delaware publishes a separate death certificate application form for funeral directors.
The state office holds death records from 1974 to the present. For earlier records, contact the Delaware Public Archives (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 Delaware
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Delaware.
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
- Office of Vital Statistics, Delaware Division of Public Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Delaware)
- Office of Vital Statistics, Delaware Division of Public Health (PDF)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.