In Massachusetts, certified death certificates are issued by Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The state fee is $20 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 Massachusetts
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $20 |
| Each additional copy | $20 |
The fee depends on how you order: in person $20 per copy; mail $32 per copy (expedited mail $42); online/phone via VitalChek $54 first copy and $42 each additional (expedited $62.50 / $50.50). City/town clerk fees differ.
Who can order a certified copy
Death certificates are public records and anyone can request one. A copy showing the Social Security number is restricted to the spouse or domestic partner, parent or legal guardian, child, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, the informant, a licensed funeral director listed on the record, a conservator/personal or legal representative of the estate, or a government official.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
- County/local office
City and town clerks where the death occurred issue certificates.
How long it takes
RVRS fee page: in person "Processed immediately (in most cases)"; standard mail "Processed and shipped within 15-20 business days"; expedited mail within 10 business days; VitalChek standard within 10 business days, expedited next business day. The how-to page separately says mail orders are processed within 30 business days.
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The funeral home’s role
Per the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the funeral director may obtain copies for the deceased's closest legal living relative.
RVRS issues only certified copies. 1931-1935 records moved to the Massachusetts State Archives; pre-1936 death records may also be held by the city or town.
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 Massachusetts
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Massachusetts.
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
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Massachusetts)
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.