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How to Find Pennsylvania Death Records
Death Records in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the Division of Vital Records provides certified copes
of death records. These are the certificates with the official raised
seal.
Individuals who are permitted to request a copy of a death certificate:
� Legal representative of the estate of the individual named on the
death certificate.
� Immediate and extended family members including spouse, son, daughter,
mother, father, brother, half brother, sister, half sister,
grandparent/great grandparent (maternal or paternal), grandchild, great
grandchild, stepparent, stepson, or stepdaughter. Additional information
may be required from extended family members and legal representatives.
� Applicant must be at least eighteen years of age.
Basic information to be included with requests for birth certificates:
� Full name of the person named on the death certificate.
� Date of death. If the exact date of death is unknown, an additional
fee may be charged for retrieval of the information.
� County and city of death.
� Gender of the individual named on the death certificate.
� Parents� names. Mother�s name must include her maiden name.
� Social security number of the individual named on the death
certificate.
� Funeral director.
� Relationship to the person whose name is on the death certificate.
� Reason for the request for an official copy of the death certificate.
� Applicant�s signature.
� Applicant�s daytime telephone number. This includes the area code.
� Applicant�s mailing address.
� Items for which you do not know the correct response should be filled
in with the word �unknown.�
Fees associated with acquiring a copy of an official death certificate:
� No fee is required for active and inactive members of the Armed Forces
and their dependents.
� A $9.00 fee per copy for civilians. Payment may be made by check or
money order written to �Vital Records.� Online and fax requests must be
paid with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. The credit card must be
in the name of the requestor. An additional fee of $7.00 is charged for
online and facsimile requests.
� If you use an express carrier including UPS, FedEx, and Express Mail,
an additional $13.50 will be added to your cost.
Additional fees are typically charged to locate death certificates when
the date of death is unknown. The initial fee generally covers a range
of years with an additional fee being assessed for continued searches.
Four different methods are available to obtain a copy of a death
certificate: postal mail, in person, fax, and online. To submit a
request for a death certificate in Pennsylvania, the following link can
be used: http://www.vitalchek.com/homepage.asp.
How to Apply for Certified Copied of Death Certificates Online
Before you can submit an online request, you will be required to read
and sign a disclaimer form located at the following link: http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=168&Q=202373.
Next, you need to use drop down selection menus to fill in some of the
information that pertains to your request including: type of
certificate, city, county, date of the event, and the reason for the
request. Select continue once the information has been filled in and you
will be taken to a page to select your shipping options. Following this
step, you will be required to complete the application.
The certificate will only be mailed to the address that corresponds to
the credit card
account that is used for payment. Requests are generally processed
within three to five business days. Death certificates will be sent
through postal mail unless a request and payment has been made for an
express carrier including UPS, FedEx, and Express Mail. A signature is
required to receive a certified copy of the death certificate through an
express carrier. An additional charge is assessed for the use of an
express carrier.
How to Apply for Certified Copied of Death Certificates by Postal Mail
A postal mail application to request an official copy of a death
certificate can be obtained at the following link:
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/lib/health/old_dir/
Send the completed form with signature, a legible copy of a government
issued photo identification card, and payment information to the
following address:
Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street
Room 401
PO Box 1528
New Castle, Pa 16101
Acceptable forms of identification include a state issued driver�s
license or non-driver photo identification card that includes the
current address. Photo identification should be enlarged by 150% or
more. Please note that photo identification will be shredded after it
has been processed.
How to Apply for Certified Copied of Death Certificates by Fax
Obtain an application for facsimile requests
Send the completed form with signature, a legible copy of a government
issued photo identification card, and payment information to
724-652-8951. Acceptable forms of identification include a state issued
driver�s license or non-driver photo identification card that includes
the current address. Photo identification should be enlarged by 150% or
more. Please note that photo identification will be shredded after it
has been processed.
The certificate will only be mailed to the address that corresponds to
the credit card account that is used for payment. Requests are generally
processed within three to five business days. Death certificates will be
sent through postal mail unless a request and payment has been made for
an express carrier including UPS, FedEx, and Express Mail. A signature
is required to receive a certified copy of the death certificate through
an express carrier. An additional charge is assessed for the use of an
express carrier.
How to Apply for Certified Copied of Death Certificates in Person
Six public different public offices are available for in person
requests. They are listed here:
Division of Vital Records
Erie Branch Office
1910 West 26th Street
Erie, Pa. 16508-1148
Division of Vital Records
Harrisburg Branch Office
Health & Welfare Building
Room 129
Harrisburg, Pa. 17120-0012
Division of Vital Records
Philadelphia State Office Building
1400 West Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19130-4090
Division of Vital Records
Pittsburgh State Office Building
Room 512
300 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa 15222-1210
Division of Vital Records
Scranton State Office Building
Room 112
100 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton, Pa 18503-4595
Division of Vital Records
Central Building
Room401
101 South Mercer Street
New Castle, Pa 16101
Office hours are between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Mondays
through Fridays. State holidays are excluded. A legible copy of a
government issued photo identification card is required. Acceptable
forms of identification include a state issued driver�s license or
non-driver photo identification card that includes the current address.
The Erie Branch only maintains death records from 1995 to the present.
Requests for records prior to this year will be forwarded to the New
Castle Office, which is the central office. Same day service is
available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m.
that day.
The Harrisburg Branch accepts requests for all years. However, all death
certificates will be issued from the New Castle Office regardless of the
year. Therefore, no same day service is available at this branch.
The Philadelphia Branch only maintains death records from 1995 to the
present. Requests for records prior to this year will be forwarded to
the New Castle Office, which is the central office.
The Pittsburgh Branch only maintains death records from 1996 to the
present. Requests for records prior to this year will be forwarded to
the New Castle Office, which is the central office. Same day service is
available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m.
that day. However, same day service is not available for genealogical
requests.
The Scranton Branch only maintains death records from 1996 to the
present. Requests for records prior to this year will be forwarded to
the New Castle Office, which is the central office. Same day service is
available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m.
that day. However, same day service is not available for genealogical
requests.
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