In Mississippi, certified death certificates are issued by Office of Vital Records, Mississippi State Department of Health. The state fee is $17 for the first certified copy and $6 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 Mississippi
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $17 |
| Each additional copy | $6 |
$6 each additional copy ordered at the same time. Mail payment by cashier's check or bank/postal money order only (no personal checks). VitalChek adds its own fee.
Who can order a certified copy
The application lists the spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, grandchild, guardian, or legal representative (with proof of guardianship or representation, including a bar number for attorneys) as applicants who must supply photo ID.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
The MSDH ordering page links to county offices but does not say they issue death certificates.
How long it takes
MSDH: for in-person orders at Ridgeland, "The record will be mailed within 7 to 10 business days of ordering.".
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The funeral home’s role
MSDH tells families to contact 'the funeral director who filed the certificate' about errors on deaths less than one year old.
State records since 1912 (per CDC). If the date is uncertain, MSDH searches five years; if no record is found, only fees for additional copies are refunded.
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 Mississippi
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Mississippi.
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 Records, Mississippi State Department of Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Mississippi)
- Office of Vital Records, Mississippi State Department of Health
- Office of Vital Records, Mississippi State Department of Health
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.