Pennsylvania Death Records

Statewide recording of deaths in Pennsylvania began in 1906. However, some counties, like Fulton and Cumberland Counties, started keeping death records within their jurisdictions earlier, mostly between 1873 and 1893. Pennsylvania has a mortality rate of 815.1 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the United State's average of 793.7 per 100,000 total population. The state records an average of 145,345 deaths annually and keeps records of each of them.

The most common type of death record in Pennsylvania is the death certificate. A death certificate is a legal document that provides important information, such as the place, date, and cause of death, of a person. A person may either request a death certificate with medical information or one without medical information in the state.

When someone dies in Pennsylvania, a medical certifier, which may be a medical examiner, coroner, physician, physician assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner, reports the cause and manner of the death. Afterward, the person in charge of the interment or the funeral director is responsible for filing a report of that death (original death certificate) with the Commonwealth's Division of Vital Records. An original death certificate is always in the custody of the Division of Vital Records. The certified copy of a death certificate, which is an official, verified duplicate of the original, is what is issued to members of the public.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

Information on getting records of deaths that occurred in the Commonwealth before 1906 may be obtained by contacting the relevant county courthouse. The Vital Records Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains and issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in the Commonwealth since 1906. Interested and eligible persons may obtain them through any of the following ways:

• Mail-in Application - Complete the Application for a Death Certificate Form and mail it with an acceptable ID and applicable fee to the state's Division of Vital Records at:

  Pennsylvania Department of Health

  Division of Vital Records

  Death Certificate Processing Unit

  P.O. Box 1528

  New Castle, PA 16103

  Mail-in orders are usually processed approximately 3 weeks after the application receipt date, provided such orders are not genealogical requests, the applications do not involve a court order, or there are no application issues to resolve.

• In-Person Application - For in-person orders, complete the Application for a Death Certificate Form and walk into any of the state's Division of Vital Records offices to apply. Make sure to include a copy of an acceptable ID and make the necessary payment. Most vital records offices offer same-day services for walk-in applications received by 2:30 p.m.

  Acceptable forms of ID to get a certified copy of a Pennsylvania death certificate include a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID, inmate identification card, and medical marijuana identification card. Others are a military identification card and license to carry firearms/carry and conceal permit.

  Unless the person requesting a copy of a certified death certificate in Pennsylvania meets the fee waiver requirements for members of the United States Armed Forces, they must pay a $20 fee for each death certificate ordered. The fee is payable to VITAL RECORDS by check or money order. Anyone applying in person can make their payment with a debit/credit card.

Are Pennsylvania Death Records Public?

Only Pennsylvania death records older than 50 years are considered public records. Those under 50 years are largely restricted records. While members of the public may view them, only individuals with a direct interest in the content of the state's death record, especially in the determination of property or personal rights may obtain certified copies of the record, per Section 450.804 of the state's Statutes.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

Original birth certificates in Pennsylvania remain permanently on the file of the Commonwealth's Division of Vital Records once filed by the funeral directors. Eligible persons may only request certified copies of the original. Under state law, individuals or entities who can request certified copies of a death certificate in Pennsylvania include the following:

• The decedent's children, spouse, siblings, half-siblings, parents, step-parents (requires marriage certificate), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, grandparents, great-grandparents, and ex-spouse (with proof of tangible and direct interest)
• Extended family members of the deceased. They may be required to present additional documents.
• Anyone with direct financial interest. They will be required to provide additional documents
• A person with a power of Attorney
• The decedent's ex-spouse. They must provide proof of direct interest
• The relevant government office that is handling the decedent's estate. They must provide an official letter.
• The legal representative or attorney of the decedent's estate. They must present additional documents.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

How long it takes to get a death certificate in Pennsylvania generally depends on the method of request. For a mail-in request, it takes about 3 weeks from the date the Division of Vital Records receives an application for a death certificate to process the request. Afterward, certified copies of the death certificate are made available to the requester, depending on the number of copies requested. On the other hand, a requester can get a copy of a Pennsylvania death certificate on the same day they submit an in-person application if done before 2:30 p.m.

However, there may sometimes be a delay in getting a death certificate in Pennsylvania if the circumstances surrounding a person's death are unusual and suspicious. For instance, the sudden death of a healthy individual and those caused by suicides, criminal violence, accidents, or complications of therapeutic or diagnostic procedures are typically investigated by the Coroner's Office.

Where the coroner is unable to determine the cause and manner of death from its preliminary investigation, the board-certified forensic pathologists will perform an autopsy to determine this based on the coroner's investigation. Until the cause or manner of death is determined, the cause of death will be listed as pending on the death certificate. It may take between 6 to 8 weeks before toxicology analysis is completed if further testing is required to determine the cause of death. These issues and several others typically cause a delay in making the death certificate available to the funeral director.

Can I View Pennsylvania Death Records online for free?

Interested persons may view or access digital copies of death records free of charge for deaths that occurred in Pennsylvania between 1906 and 1971 through Ancestry.com. The Ancestry Pennsylvania maintains death indices for deaths recorded within this period. Similarly, some historic death records in the state are available for free viewing on Familysearch.org.

Anyone looking to access Pennsylvania death records online may also consider checking third-party sites Pennsylvaniapublicrecords.us. While these sites typically charge a small service fee, they are convenient to use. In addition, requesters do not have to wait a long time to access such records. There are instances when some deaths may not be officially recorded, and in such cases, death records may not exist. Where official death records are unavailable in Pennsylvania, substitute records like tax records, obituaries, cemetery records, newspapers, probate records, and church records may be used to find death information free of charge.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

Eligible persons may request Pennsylvania death certificates for numerous reasons, including the following:

• For genealogy research in uncovering potential family connections, locating burial sites, and establishing timelines.
• To claim insurance benefits and pension benefits.
• To arrange funerals.
• To settle decedents' estates, including debts and assets.
• To prove the death of a previous spouse and enable the decedent's widow or widower to remarry.
• To transfer the title of a decedent's real property and other assets like a boat, car, or airplane.
• To notify the following agencies or entities of a person's death to prevent identity theft:
• Social Security Administration
• Credit agencies
• Life insurance companies
• Utilities and services
• Banks and other financial institutions, including credit card companies
• Department of Motor Vehicles

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Pennsylvania?

Generally, it is good to obtain multiple copies of a Pennsylvania death certificate. Certified copies of a death certificate are usually available from the funeral director in the Commonwealth for some time, after which anyone who needs copies may only order them from the Division of Vital Records.

While getting between 8 and 12 certified copies is often advised, the exact number of copies required varies greatly by family size. In addition, the number of different agencies that may require a certified copy of the certificate for various legal purposes can influence the actual number of copies needed.