In Oklahoma, certified death certificates are issued by Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service. The state fee is $15 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 Oklahoma
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy | $15 |
Mail application: 'Standard certified copy request ($15 each – includes search fee)'; the $15 search fee is non-refundable if no record is found. Online/phone through VitalChek: 'The cost is $20.00 for the first copy and $15 for each individual copy', plus VitalChek fees; non-resident rates vary; expediting costs extra.
Who can order a certified copy
Surviving spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling or legal guardian (with ID); Legal representative of the estate, as documented by a court order; Funeral director of record or their agent, acting in official business; Others who can establish a familial relationship; a person with a court order; a co-owner or joint tenant on the decedent's property; a person named in a will that is in probate; Death records are not open to the public; proof of familial or legal relationship is required.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
Not confirmed. Lobbies are closed to walk-ins; Will Call pickup of online/phone orders is available at three state locations.
How long it takes
OSDH: online/phone orders take 'about two (2) business days to get the order processed' (with optional 'Will Call' pickup in Oklahoma City, Tulsa or McAlester); mail orders 'approximately 6 weeks' (death certificates page) – the main vital records page says mail is 'Approximately 4 Weeks Turnaround'.
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The funeral home’s role
OSDH FAQ: 'It is the responsibility of the funeral director to obtain the personal information of the deceased from the next of kin… The funeral director then has the final responsibility to file the record with the State Registrar.' Funeral directors are also eligible to order.
OSDH 'does not accept online or phone orders directly'; they go through its partner VitalChek. The free OK2Explore index shows whether a death older than 5 years is on file.
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 Oklahoma
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Oklahoma.
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
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Oklahoma)
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service (PDF)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.