How to Get a Delaware Death Certificate (2026)

You get a Delaware death certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics, part of the Division of Public Health. A certified copy costs $25.00, and for deaths within the last 40 years only immediate family, the estate representative, or the informant on the record may order one. You can request by mail, in person, or online.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Delaware?

You get a Delaware death certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics, which is part of the Division of Public Health under the Department of Health and Social Services. This office holds death records for the most recent 40 years. There are three main ways to request a copy.

The first option is mail. You send a completed application, a copy of your valid photo ID, and the $25.00 fee to the Office of Vital Statistics at the Jesse S. Cooper Building in Dover. The office encourages mail requests for routine orders.

The second option is in person at any of the three service locations around the state. Counter service is generally available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.

The third option is online through the state-authorized vendors GoCertificates or VitalChek. Delaware does not take credit-card orders directly over the internet, so online requests go through these processors, which add a separate handling fee on top of the $25.00 state charge.

Office Locations

You can submit applications or pick up service at any of these Office of Vital Statistics locations:

• Jesse S. Cooper Building, 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901
• Chopin Building, 258 Chapman Road, Newark, DE 19702
• Thurman Adams State Service Center, 546 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown, DE 19947

Who Is Eligible to Request a Delaware Death Certificate?

Eligibility depends on how long ago the death occurred. Delaware restricts public access to death records for 40 years after the date of death. During that 40-year window, only certain people may obtain a certified copy.

Eligible requesters generally include the deceased person's immediate family, such as a parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandchild. A legal representative of the family or estate may also qualify, as can the informant named on the death certificate.

Once 40 years have passed since the date of death, the record becomes public. At that point, anyone may obtain a copy, and the older records are held by the Delaware Public Archives rather than the Office of Vital Statistics.

You must show that you have a direct and tangible interest in the record. A copy of your valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver license, state ID, or work ID, is required with every request.

Delaware Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

A certified Delaware death certificate costs $25.00 per copy. A portion of that fee is directed to the state distressed cemetery fund. If the office searches but cannot locate the record, the $25.00 is retained as a search fee and is not refunded.

Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $25.00. There is no reduced rate for extra copies, so ordering several at once mainly saves you a second round of shipping and processing.

Processing usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks for mail and in-person requests submitted to the Office of Vital Statistics. Online orders placed through GoCertificates or VitalChek may offer faster shipping options for an added fee, but the underlying state record search still applies.

Certified vs Informational Copy in Delaware

A certified copy is the official, legally recognized version of the death certificate. It is printed on security paper and is what you need to settle an estate, claim life insurance or pension benefits, close financial accounts, or transfer property. This is the copy the Office of Vital Statistics issues for $25.00.

Delaware's vital records system is built around issuing certified copies to eligible applicants rather than selling open informational copies of recent deaths. Because access is restricted for 40 years, the state does not provide a general informational copy of a recent death certificate to the public the way some states do.

If you only need the genealogical or historical information from a death that occurred more than 40 years ago, you can use the public records held by the Delaware Public Archives. The Archives can provide microfilm copies for a per-page fee and certified copies for legal purposes at $25.00 each.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

You get additional or replacement copies the same way you obtain the first one: through the Office of Vital Statistics by mail, in person, or online. Each copy is $25.00, whether you order it now or come back later.

To replace a lost certificate, submit a new application with your photo ID and the fee. If you are eligible under the 40-year rule, the office will issue a fresh certified copy from the record on file.

If you expect to need several certificates, for example one each for the bank, the insurer, and the probate court, order them together. You pay $25.00 for each, but you complete a single application and avoid repeat processing time.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about obtaining a Delaware death certificate and is not legal advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and procedures can change. Always confirm the current requirements with the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics before you submit a request.

Sources

This page draws on the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics, the State of Delaware certificates guide, and the Delaware Public Archives vital records guide.

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Related: Delaware Death Records and Death Records by State.