In District of Columbia, certified death certificates are issued by DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD), DC Health. The state fee is $18 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 District of Columbia
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $18 |
| Each additional copy | $18 |
$18 per death certificate (DC fee schedule). VitalChek adds processing fees: mail $6.00, phone $15.95, online $15.95.
Who can order a certified copy
Spouse or domestic partner named on the certificate, parent named on the certificate, adult child, adult grandchild or sibling (with certified birth records), grandparent, legal guardian (court order), legal representative (retainer, bar card and letter), law enforcement (subpoena), or an interested party who shows a tangible or legal interest. Cousins, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors are NOT eligible.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
A single District office (2201 Shannon Place SE) with walk-up hours and kiosks.
How long it takes
DC Health: walk-up customers "can often retrieve a vital record … the same day"; remote orders go through VitalChek and "Processing and shipping times vary by vendor." Archived originals "typically take two to three weeks" after identity and entitlement are verified.
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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.
DCVRD holds death certificates back to August 1874; death records become public after 75 years. Unofficial copies of open 1874-1945 records come from the DC Archives.
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 District of Columbia
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in District of Columbia.
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
- DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD), DC Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (District of Columbia)
- DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD), DC Health
- DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD), DC Health
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.