How do I get a certified copy of a death certificate in Pennsylvania?

If you need a death certificate quickly, make your request in person at one of our six Vital Records Branch Offices or online at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. See our Processing Times for current processing times for applications placed online, by telephone or by mail.

How long does it take to get a copy of a death certificate in Pennsylvania?

Certified copies are $20.00 each and only available locally up until 90 days from the date of death. After 90 days the certificate is filed with the state of Pennsylvania and certified copies may take four to six weeks to obtain.

Can I photocopy a death certificate in pa?

Death certificates are one of a very small number of documents that, under Pennsylvania law, you are not legally allowed to photocopy.

What is the difference between an original death certificate and a copy?

A certified copy is a death certificate issued by an authorized person, usually your county’s vital record office. These are used for legal purposes, and they include a government seal certifying that they’re authentic and real. The alternative is an uncertified, informational copy.

How many death certificates do I need in Pennsylvania?

We recommend requesting five to ten copies of your loved one’s death certificate. When completing your request for a certified death certificate in Pennsylvania, make sure to get additional copies. This also ensures that the copies are legitimate and will be accepted by the agencies that need them.

Can you use photocopies of death certificates?

If you are dealing with the estate yourself then you may need more death certificates, as you are not allowed to copy the death certificate using a printer or photocopier. In fact, it is illegal to copy a death certificate.

Is a certified copy as good as the original?

A certified copy doesn’t have to be endorsed by whoever issued the original document. A certified copy doesn’t certify that the original document is genuine or legally valid — only that it’s a true copy of the original (so in theory anyone could certify something as a copy).

Is it illegal to certify a death certificate?

It does not certify that the original document is genuine, only that it is a true copy of the original. The Law Society states that there are no specific rules that apply to the certification of documents, only that the document must be a true copy.

What do you do after a parent dies?

Here are steps to take when a parent or loved one dies.

  1. Get a pronouncement of death.
  2. Contact your parent’s friends and family.
  3. Secure your parent’s home.
  4. Make funeral and burial plans.
  5. Get copies of the death certificate.
  6. Locate life insurance policies.
  7. Locate the will and start the probate process.

Do utility companies need death certificates?

Gas and Electric This can be done by letter and will not normally require a death certificate to be supplied if all you want to do is change the name on the account without interrupting the supply. You will need the address of the property and the account numbers.