In Tennessee, certified death certificates are issued by Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. 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 Tennessee
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy | $15 |
Application PH-1663: 'Enclose $15.00 for each copy.' The $15.00 search fee includes one copy if found and is non-refundable if the record is not on file.
Who can order a certified copy
Qualified applicants: parent, child, or spouse; Others must present documents supporting their right to the certificate (e.g., custody orders, letters testamentary, insurance policies naming beneficiaries); Cause of death is available only to the decedent's parent, child, spouse, or an attorney or agency acting for the estate or a qualifying family member.
How to order
- In person
- County/local office
'All county health departments can issue any birth or death certificates that have been registered statewide… You do not need to travel to the county where the birth or death occurred.'.
How long it takes
The office does not publish a processing time. Ask when you order, especially if an insurer or bank is waiting.
📨 Get Free Funeral Cost Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
The funeral home’s role
TN Office of Vital Records: funeral homes complete the decedent's demographic information in the electronic system and release the record to the state after it is certified; 'Records may only be released by a Funeral Director.'.
The application says to follow up if you get no response within 45 days. The state's order/fees help-center pages (vitalrecords.tn.gov) returned HTTP 403, so the online vendor and processing times could not be confirmed there.
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 Tennessee
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Tennessee.
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
- Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Tennessee)
- Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (PDF)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.