How to Get a Death Certificate in Massachusetts

Getting a death certificate is one of the first practical steps after a death in Massachusetts, and the details of who issues it and what it costs are specific to Massachusetts.

Who issues death certificates in Massachusetts?

Certified copies come from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester and the city and town clerks. In practice, the funeral home usually files the certificate and orders an initial batch of certified copies for you.

How much does a certified copy cost in Massachusetts?

In person at the state Registry, a certified copy costs $20. By standard mail it is $32 per copy (expedited mail $42), and online or by phone through VitalChek it is $54 for the first copy and $42 for each additional (expedited $62.50 and $50.50). City and town clerks set their own fees: Springfield and Belmont charge $20 per copy, while Sudbury charges $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional.

Who can order a copy in Massachusetts?

The Registry’s and town clerks’ pages list no relationship requirement for a certified death certificate, and each asks for identification and the details of the death. The Registry issues only certified copies, regardless of intended use.

How do I order more copies in Massachusetts?

• At a city or town clerk: the clerk where the death occurred, or where the person lived if they died elsewhere in Massachusetts, can issue copies in person, by mail, or online. Fees vary by town.
• At the state Registry: the counter at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is open Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., at $20 per copy.
• By mail: with the mail order form and a check or money order payable to “Commonwealth of Massachusetts” ($32 per copy for standard handling, which takes 15 to 20 business days).
• Online or by phone: through VitalChek, at the higher prices above.

What else should I know before I order?

The state’s mail and online prices include a 10-year record search, which is why they are higher than the in-person price.

What should I do next?

Confirm with the funeral home how many copies it is ordering for you, then decide how many more you need; see how many death certificates you need in Massachusetts and our general guide to death certificates.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your Social Security number, birthplace, and parents’ full names - the death certificate application asks for these, and they’re often surprisingly hard for a family to track down under pressure.

Fees and rules change - confirm current details with the Massachusetts Registry or your city or town clerk before you send payment.