Pennsylvania Death Certificate Search

The Pennsylvania Department of Health-Vital Records Division is in charge of maintaining and issuing death certificates for deaths that have taken place in Pennsylvania since 1906. Pennsylvania death records generally serve as legal proof of a person's death and contain important information about a deceased person.

Death certificates have significant legal implications. They are used to access insurance and pension benefits, and they are required for remarriage, planning a funeral, or settling the estates of the deceased. The NCHS also uses the data on the death certificate to establish financing priorities for public health after recording it at the State Vital Statistics office. Death certificates are the only source of mortality information, including the cause of death and illnesses present at the time of death; hence, they are heavily relied on for the enactment of public policy.

A person's cause of death, typically included in a death certificate, is significant in civil and criminal actions. The reasons for a death can be consulted to ascertain whether the decedent's death was accidental or deliberate. It is used to help establish if the defendant's activities contributed to a person's death in legal trials like personal injury cases for negligence. The Right to Know Law governs the dissemination of death records in Pennsylvania.

Are Death Certificates Public in Pennsylvania?

Yes. The Right to Know Law allows the disclosure of public death records, including certificates, in Pennsylvania. However, certified death certificates are not accessible to the public as they are exempted from public view. Copies of death records accessed through the State Archives can be used for genealogical purposes. Individuals who are eligible to request and obtain death certificates in Pennsylvania include:

Wife or husband
Ex-spouse, with supporting evidence
A parent or a stepparent
Sibling, half-sibling, half-brother
Daughter or son
Son or daughter of a stepparent, with supporting evidence
Grandparent/ great-grandparent
Grandchild/ great-grandchild
Legal counsel or the executor of the deceased person's estate (with supporting documentation)
The legal representative of the estate of the deceased (with supporting documentation to establish direct interest)
Someone with a clear financial connection to the deceased (with documentation to support direct interest)
The government agency that has taken over the management of an estate
Extended family members who claim to be the deceased's blood relatives (proof may be required)

What is a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania death certificates are documents created to provide an official account of a person's demise. It is typically printed on security paper with a raised seal. The following details make up a Pennsylvania death certificate:

Part I: This section describes the deceased's immediate cause of death and the circumstances or events that contributed to their passing.
Part II: This section offers a list of the underlying cause of death, which may have existed or been a problem identified in the patient's lengthy medical history. To temper their judgment, certifiers may employ terms like "presumed" or "likely" since many elements about the cause of death may still be unknown.

Can I View Death Certificates Online for Free

Yes. To digitize family history records held by the Pennsylvania State Archives and make them accessible online, the State Archives has partnered with a third-party website. Residents of Pennsylvania can access archived death certificates through this website at no cost. This is in accordance with the "Pennsylvania Right to Know Law". Individuals may also direct inquiries to the county Register of Wills or the county courthouse where the death occurred.

How to Conduct a Free Death Certificate Search in Pennsylvania

Residents of Pennsylvania have free access to death certificates through the designated third-party resource or online vendor provided by the state government. The person requesting the record will need to:

Enter a zip code in the form at the bottom of the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission page to receive a link to the Pennsylvania search page on the site
On the initial search screen, enter the search parameters (such as name, birth year, and location). The entries from the Pennsylvania State Archives records will be displayed in the results.
There will be a request to "Create a Free Account" when any of the documents in the list of results are clicked on
Get a username and password by entering a name and email address.

Using the free account, interested persons will be able to view any public death record information in Pennsylvania.

Where to Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania

An individual may get a death certificate in Pennsylvania by:

Visiting the State Vital Records Website
Making in-person requests to any of the Vital Records Offices at:

Erie
1910 West 26th Street
Erie, PA 16508

Harrisburg
Forum Place, 1st Floor
555 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

New Castle
105 Nesbitt Road
New Castle, PA 16105

Philadelphia
110 N. 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Pittsburgh
411 Seventh Avenue, Room 360
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Scranton
Scranton State Office Building, Room 112
100 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton PA 18503

County courthouse for archived death certificates
County Register of Wills for archived death certificates
Pennsylvania state archives

How to Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania

To get a death certificate in Pennsylvania, interested persons may:

Request in person: For walk-in services, an individual may check out the Public Office page for the location of Vital Records Offices in Pennsylvania and their hours of operation.
Request Online: The only authorized vendor authorized to receive orders for death certificates in partnership with the government in Pennsylvania is available online 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, for anyone to order death certificates. An additional $10 processing cost is charged in addition to the $20 normal death certificate fee.
Request by Mail: To request a death certificate by mail, inquirers may fill out a death certificate application form and mail it to the:

Division of Vital Records
Death Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

Requested death certificates are sent through First Class Mail. An individual who needs fast shipping may fill out an online application and choose "UPS" as the shipping choice for an additional fee.

What Information is on a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania?

The following information is typically listed on a death certificate in Pennsylvania:

Full name
Gender
Age/ Date of birth
Date of Death
Cause/Manner of death
Location of death (full address of hospital or residence).
Race
Residential address
Education
Work-related occupation.
Location of birth (city and country).
State of marriage at the time of death.
Full name of spouse
Age at the time of marriage.
Burial or cremation site.

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

The length of time it takes to get a Pennsylvania death certificate varies depending on the method utilized to request a death certificate and other variables. Currently, the projected delivery time for online orders submitted through a third-party website is three weeks. The inquirer can also request expedited services for a speedier turnaround for an additional fee.

For instant access to Pennsylvania death records, inquirers may perform their searches using third-party aggregate sites.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Pennsylvania?

At least 10. Given the numerous offices and agencies requiring death certificates after an individual's demise, requesters are advised to obtain multiple copies when requesting certified copies.