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Death Certificates

The Oklahoma State Department of Health Division of Vital Records is responsible for registering every death which occurs in the State of Oklahoma as well as preserving, amending and issuing certified copies of those records in accordance with state law.

Vital Records offers multiple options for obtaining your records, including "Will Call" pickup service. While our lobbies are not open to walk-ins, we offer quick affordable turnaround options to help meet your needs.

For faster service, please utilize our convenient online and phone order options, which are eligible for "will call" pickup service at one of three locations throughout the state - Oklahoma City, Tulsa and McAlester.

You may still place orders through the mail, but it may take 6 weeks for processing and delivery. Please note that incomplete or incorrect information may result in delays in your order being processed no matter the order method.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the responsibility of the funeral director to obtain the personal information of the deceased from the next of kin or best qualified source available. Once that is complete, the funeral director will provide the record to the physician to complete the cause of death information. The funeral director then has the final responsibility to file the record with the State Registrar.

By state law, death records filed are not open for public inspection. Obtaining a death certificate by or for fraudulent purposes is punishable by law.

The person requesting the certificate must meet specific eligibility standards. Click an option below to see the standards dependent on who is asking for the records.

  • Surviving Spouse, Parent, Child, Grandparent, Sibling or Legal Guardian
    • Complete Application
    • Signature of the Applicant on the Application
    • Fees
    • 1 primary form of ID OR 2 forms of secondary ID (If using secondary ID, the certificate MUST be mailed to the address on the IDs.)
  • Legal representative of the estate of the deceased as documented by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction;
    • Complete Application
    • Signature of the Applicant on the Application
    • Fees
    • 1 primary form of ID of the Applicant
    • Proof of relationship to the subject (e.g. client agreement, court order, notarized statement, etc.)
    • If attorney is using a runner
      • Letter from attorney on firm letterhead identifying the runner
 
  • Funeral director of record or agent thereto, working in the capacity of their official business
 
  • Other eligible parties may include:
    • An individual who can establish a familial relationship with the deceased
    • Person with a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction
    • A person who was a co-owner or a joint tenant on real or personal property of the decedent
    • A person listed in a will of the decedent, provided the will is in probate

Additional documentation may be required demonstrating the requestor’s authorization to obtain the death record requested.

Genealogist or other eligible parties

Open Records (50 years or older)
  • Complete Application
  • Signature of the Applicant on the Application
  • Fees
  • 1 primary form of ID of the Applicant 

Closed Records (occurring within last 125 years)
  • Complete Application
  • Signature of the Applicant on the Application
  • Fees
  • 1 primary form of ID of the Applicant 
  • If the subject is deceased:
    • Statement signed by a family member, proof of familial relationship to the decedent, and a copy of the family member’s ID and proof of death (if the death occurred outside Oklahoma) - OR - 
    • Court order

Additional documentation may be required demonstrating the requestor’s authorization to obtain the death record requested.

In-Person

Vital Records lobbies are closed for walk-in visits. For faster service, please utilize our online and phone order options. If all correct information is received upon the order, it takes about two (2) business days to get the order processed. Please note that incomplete or incorrect information may result in delays in your order being processed no matter the order method.

Online

Order your death certificate online through our partner VitalChek. Choose between receiving records by mail or pick-up at "Will Call" within two (2) business days. Online orders will receive two (2) emails: "Order Received" and "Order Processed."

An additional fee is charged for using these services. All major credit cards are accepted including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.

The cost is $20.00 for the first copy and $15 for each individual copy. Online rates will vary for non-residents. Orders may be expedited for an additional fee.

Phone

Call (877) 817-7364 to place an order over the phone with our partner VitalChek. Choose between receiving your certificate by mail or "Will Call" pick-up within two (2) business days.

An additional fee is charged for using phone services. All major credit cards are accepted including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.

The cost is $20.00 for the first copy and $15 for each individual copy. Rates will vary for non-residents. Orders may be expedited for an additional fee.

Mail

Order your death certificate through the mail and receive it through the mail in approximately 6 weeks.

Failure to include all required items below or submitting incomplete applications can cause delays in completing your request.

  1. Fill out an Application For Search And Certified Copy Of Death Certificate  - (Spanish Version)
  2. Send in Photo ID.
  3. Include a check or money order made payable to "OSDH" for the correct fee amount
  4. Birth and death records are confidential. If you are not a named parent or the subject of the record, you will need to include additional documentation before a record can be released
  5. Mail all items above to: 

Vital Records Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
PO Box 248964
Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964

A photocopy of a valid government issued photo ID by either the applicant or an individual attesting for the applicant is required for issuance of certificates.

If you are mailing your application - Send a photocopy. Do not send your original ID. Photocopies must be legible.

Acceptable Forms of Identification

What if I do not have identification?

Attestation is when the subject of the record is applying for their own record and a second party is attesting to the subject’s identity. No third-party vouching is allowed (i.e. a friend cannot vouch for a parent to obtain a child’s certificate). The allowable attestation requirements are below:

  • Signature of the Subject on the Application
  • One (1) Secondary form of ID of the Subject
    • If subject is less than 18 years of age, a school statement, including name, date of birth, and current address
  • 1 primary form of ID of the Attester/2nd party 
  • Fees

If using this option, the certificate MUST be mailed to the subject of the record at the address on the ID.

A fetal death (or stillbirth) occurs in the unfortunate circumstance when the fetus dies prior to a complete delivery.

Reporting a fetal death/stillbirth

Effective Nov. 1, 2015, fetal deaths/stillbirths are required to be reported to the Oklahoma State Department of Health within three (3) days after the delivery when it occurs at 12 or more weeks gestation. [O.S. 63.1-301 8]. Prior to this date, stillbirths were required to be filed at 20 or more weeks gestation.

The funeral director, or person acting as such, who first assumes custody of a fetus shall file the fetal death certificate. In the absence of such a person, the physician or other person in attendance at or after the delivery shall file the certificate of fetal death. They shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best-qualified person or source available. They shall complete the certificate as to personal data and deliver the certificate to that person responsible for completing the medical certification of cause of death within 24 hours after delivery. The medical certification shall be completed and signed within 48 hours after delivery by the physician in attendance at or after delivery, except when inquiry into the cause of death is required by Section 938 of this title [O.S. 63.1-318]

How to receive a fetal death/stillbirth certificate

Eligibility Guidelines

By state law, Certificate of Birth Resulting in a Stillbirth are not open for public inspection and may only be requested by the parent of the stillborn child. By filing the request, you are indicating that you are the parent of record.

Complete an application for a stillbirth certificate and submit with an acceptable form of identification. A photocopy of a valid government issued photo ID by either the applicant or an individual attesting for the applicant is required.

Certified stillbirth/fetal death certificates have a $15 fee. Memorial certificates of births resulting in stillbirth are also available for the same $15 amount.

In accordance with the Missing Angel Act - Christopher and Kendall's Law - this memorial certificate will become available November 1, 2008. The Memorial Certificate is only available to the parents of the stillborn child. This is not a new certificate, but is an abstract of the information recorded on the Legal Fetal Death/Stillbirth certificate and was designed to memorialize the stillbirth event. This certificate shall not be used as evidence of live birth nor for identification purposes. The Memorial Certificate is printed on an 8 1/2" x 11" page with a dark trim, on a sea foam green background bearing a white dove. The Certificate will reflect the name, date of delivery, place of birth, and parent's names.

The National Center for Health Statistics has information on vital record for all states. For more information, view Where to Write for Vital Records.

"Will Call" pickup service is available for online and phone orders only. When you complete your order online or over the phone with our partner VitalChek, you can choose between receiving records by mail or through pick-up at "Will Call" within two (2) business days. 

"Will Call" orders will receive two emails: "Order Received" and "Order Processed/Ready for Pickup." Once the order is ready, you can schedule a time to pick up the order at one of three Vital Records locations within the state - Oklahoma City, Tulsa nd McAlester. 

Applicant must bring a photo ID and the order confirmation. 

Will Call Hours – 12:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Monday – Friday

The fee for the search of a death certificate is $15.00 and will include the issuance of one certified copy to a qualified applicant if the certificate is on file. Additional copies will be issued at a cost of $15.00 each. The searching fee is not refundable or transferable. All fees expire one (1) year from the receipt date.

Please make your check or money order payable to OSDH.

Corrections or additions to death certificates will require additional fees and the submission of required documentation. Instructions and assessment of fees will be made on an individual basis after your application has been received and reviewed.

Death Certificates

  Search of files and the issuance of one (1) certified copy if certificate is on file

$15.00

  Additional copies (each)

$15.00

Amendments to Death Certificates

   First Certified Copy

$35.00

   Additional copies (each)

$15.00

Below are the average processing times for standard death certificate orders; however requests which require certificates to be amended or replaced can take longer.

  • Online and phone orders are processed in approximately two (2) business days. These may be expedited through our partner VitalChek for an additional fee. 
  • Mail orders will not be expedited. Please allow at least 16 weeks for standard issuance of a mail order. Be sure to review before sending by mail to assure your order is complete. Missing items or information will delay our response.

Any additional documentation required to process an amendment or replacement of a death certificate can cause further delays.

Death records may be amended in accordance with Oklahoma law based on specific legal documents. Please complete an application and mail it along with a copy of your ID and a detailed description of what the error is. Once we have reviewed your application, we will send you a letter of instruction. An additional fee of $20 may be requested to cover the cost of the amendment.

An Apostille is a form of authentication that can be used to verify the person who certified a document was an official at the time of the certification. An Apostille can be attached to a certified copy of a death record. These are routinely required for foreign use. The Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office is authorized to issue an Apostille in Oklahoma.

Learn more about fees, location and office hours at the Apostille page at the Oklahoma Secretary of State website.

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Vital Records Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
PO Box 248964
Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964

Phone: (405) 426-8880
E-mail: AskVR@health.ok.gov.  

This is what people are saying about our will call service.

"Easy system to use, and great pricing. I love that I could do all the certificates I need in one order."