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District of Columbia is a closed-record jurisdiction: certified death certificates go only to family and legal representatives until records open to the public 75 years after death.
Florida death certificates without cause of death are public; anyone 18+ can order one for $15. Cause of death is confidential for 50 years. Full guide.
Georgia is an open-record state: the public can order plain-paper death records (SSN redacted), while certified copies are limited to family and tangible-interest applicants.
In Wallace v. The State (May 6, 2025), the Georgia Supreme Court held autopsy photographs are exempt from the Open Records Act under OCGA 45-16-27(d).
Hawaii is a closed-record state. Only those with a direct and tangible interest can get a certified death certificate; records open to the public after 115 years. Fee is $10.
Find a cause of death in Alabama on the death certificate (restricted 25 years) or the public ADFS autopsy report. See who can access it and how.
How to find someone's cause of death in Alaska: it is on the death certificate and any autopsy report, both restricted to eligible family for 50 years.
How to find someone's cause of death in Arizona: it is on the death certificate, a closed record limited to eligible family until it opens after 50 years.
How to find someone's cause of death in Arkansas: it is recorded on the death certificate, which is restricted for 50 years to eligible requesters, then public.
You find a cause of death in California on the death certificate or coroner autopsy report. Anyone can buy an informational copy that shows the cause.
How to find someone's cause of death in Colorado: it is recorded on the death certificate and autopsy report, and released to eligible family, not the public.
How to find someone's cause of death in Connecticut: the cause is on the certified death certificate, which any adult 18 or older may buy. Where it's recorded.
How to find someone's cause of death in Delaware: it is recorded on the death certificate and any autopsy report, but stays confidential for 40 years.
How to find someone's cause of death in District of Columbia: it sits on the certified death certificate and OCME records, released only to eligible parties.
Find a cause of death in Florida by ordering the confidential death certificate as eligible family, requesting the autopsy report, or checking an obituary.
How to find someone's cause of death in Georgia: it is on the death certificate and autopsy report, but restricted to next of kin under O.C.G.A. 31-10-26.
How to find someone's cause of death in Hawaii: it appears on the death certificate, a closed record limited to family and others with a direct, tangible interest.
Find a cause of death in Idaho on the death certificate. It is confidential for 50 years and released only to eligible requesters. See how to request it.
How to find someone's cause of death in Illinois: where it's recorded, whether it's public, who can access the death certificate, and the coroner's role.
The cause of death on an Indiana death certificate is restricted to family and those with a legal interest. See how to find it and the 75-year rule.
How to find someone's cause of death in Iowa: where it is recorded, whether it is public, who can get it, and the medical examiner's role in unexplained deaths.
How to find someone's cause of death in Kansas. The certificate is closed to eligible requesters; the completed autopsy report is public under KORA.
Cause of death in Kentucky is recorded on the death certificate, an open record. Anyone who pays the $6 fee and identifies the record can get a copy.
In Louisiana the cause of death is on the death certificate, restricted to eligible family for 50 years, plus the public coroner's report. How to find it.
How to find someone's cause of death in Maine: it is recorded on the medical certification of the death certificate, which is restricted to eligible family for 25 years.
How to find someone's cause of death in Massachusetts: it is on the public death certificate from RVRS or the town clerk. Autopsy reports go to next of kin.
In Michigan, the cause of death appears on the certified death certificate, which any applicant can order under MCL 333.2882, or in the autopsy report.
Cause of death is on the Minnesota death certificate, and anyone can buy an informational copy showing it. Learn who can get records and how to request them.
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in Mississippi, whether it is public, who can request the death certificate, and how to get an autopsy report.
Find a cause of death in Missouri through the death certificate, certified by a physician or coroner. Restricted to eligible requesters; public after 50 years.
In Montana the cause of death appears on the death certificate, which any person can order for $16. Learn where it is recorded and how to request it.
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in Nebraska, whether it is public, who can request the certificate, and the coroner's role in unexplained deaths.
How to find someone's cause of death in Nevada. It appears on the death certificate and autopsy report, but the certificate stays confidential for 50 years.
How to find someone's cause of death in New Hampshire: it is recorded on the death certificate and is restricted to family or a legal rep until 50 years pass.
How to find someone's cause of death in New Jersey: it appears on the certified death certificate and the medical examiner's autopsy report. Who can get it.
How to find someone's cause of death in New Mexico: it is on the death certificate and OMI reports. Learn who can access it and how to request the records.
Find a cause of death in New York via the death certificate or autopsy report. It is confidential and restricted to family until records open after 50 years.
How to find someone's cause of death in North Carolina, whether it is public, who can obtain it, and where it appears on the certificate and autopsy report.
How to find someone's cause of death in North Dakota: it appears only on the complete death record, which is restricted to relatives and a few eligible requesters.
Ohio's cause of death is public. It appears on the death certificate, which anyone may buy from the Ohio Department of Health. Here is how to find it.
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in Oklahoma, whether it is public, who can get the death certificate, and how the medical examiner fits in.
Find a cause of death in Oregon on the long-form death certificate. It is restricted for 50 years, then public. See who can access it and how to request it.
How to find someone's cause of death in Pennsylvania: the coroner's name, cause, and manner of death are public, while the full death certificate is restricted.
How to find someone's cause of death in Rhode Island: it is on the death certificate, restricted to eligible requesters for 50 years, then public. See routes.
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in South Carolina, where it is recorded, whether it is public, and who can request the death certificate.
Find a cause of death in South Dakota via the death certificate, autopsy report, or obituary. Anyone can order an informational copy showing the cause for $15.
How to find someone's cause of death in Tennessee: it is on the certified death certificate (restricted to close family for 50 years) and the autopsy report.
Find a cause of death in Texas on the death certificate or a medical examiner's autopsy report. It stays confidential 25 years, then becomes public.
How to find someone's cause of death in Utah: it is on the death certificate and autopsy report, restricted to eligible family for 50 years, then public.
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in Vermont, whether it is public, who can access it, and how to request the death certificate or autopsy report.
How to find a cause of death in Washington: it appears on the certified long-form death certificate, restricted to family and other qualified applicants.
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in West Virginia, whether it is public, who can request the certificate, and the medical examiner's role.
Find a cause of death in Wisconsin through the death certificate, an autopsy report, or an obituary. The cause is restricted to family for 50 years.
Find a cause of death in Wyoming via the death certificate or coroner's autopsy report. The cause is restricted for 50 years, then opens at the Archives.
Find someone's cause of death in Maryland: it sits on the death certificate and any OCME autopsy report. The certificate is restricted; autopsy reports are public.
How to find a cause of death in Virginia: it appears on the death certificate (family only) and the medical examiner releases cause and manner once a case closes.
Get a California death certificate from the CDPH Office of Vital Records or the county recorder. Certified copies cost $26 each in 2026. See who is eligible and how to apply.
Get a certified Colorado death certificate from CDPHE Vital Records or a county office. The first copy is $25 and each additional copy is $20. Here is who qualifies and how to order.
Get a Connecticut death certificate from the State Vital Records Office or town clerk for $20 per certified copy. Anyone 18 or older may request one. See how.
Get a Delaware death certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics for $25 per certified copy. Learn who is eligible, the request methods, processing time, and how to order extra copies.