How to Find a Cause of Death in Kentucky (2026)

Cause of death in Kentucky appears on the death certificate. Under KRS 213.136(1), the state registrar must issue a certified copy of a vital record to any applicant, so anyone who pays the $6 fee and supplies enough information to identify the record can order a certified copy from the Office of Vital Statistics. For deaths the coroner or medical examiner investigated, the autopsy file is a separate record requested from the county coroner.

How Do You Find Someone's Cause of Death in Kentucky?

The most direct way to find a cause of death in Kentucky is to obtain a certified death certificate, which records the cause of death. Under KRS 213.136(1), the state registrar must issue a certified copy of a vital record to any applicant, so any requester who pays the fee and identifies the record can order one from the Office of Vital Statistics.

The Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort holds death records from 1911 to the present for deaths that occurred in Kentucky. A certified copy costs $6.00, and that single document shows both the fact of death and the medical cause.

If the death was sudden, violent, or unexplained, a coroner or the state medical examiner investigated it. In those cases the family can request the autopsy report through the county coroner. Kentucky has no statute declaring a coroner's findings public, so that request is handled under the state's Open Records Act.

For an overview of how this information is handled across the country, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Kentucky?

In practice, yes for the certificate. Kentucky vital records are not open to general inspection: KRS 213.131(1) makes it unlawful to disclose information contained in a vital record except as authorized by the chapter, by regulation, or by order of a court. KRS 213.136(1) supplies that authorization for certified copies, directing the state registrar to issue one to any applicant.

This differs from many states, where certified copies that show cause of death are limited to family members or people with a documented legal interest until a waiting period passes. Kentucky places no such limit on who may buy a certified death certificate; correct identifying information and the $6 fee are what the office asks for.

There is also a long-term public threshold. Under KRS 213.131(5), once 50 years have elapsed after the date of death, death records in the custody of the state registrar become public records.

For deaths that went through the coroner or the medical examiner, the autopsy file is a separate matter. No Kentucky statute makes the coroner's findings a public record, and KRS 72.031 bars public release of autopsy photographs, other visual images, and video or audio recordings unless the spouse or personal representative provides an express waiver.

Where the Cause of Death Is Recorded (Death Certificate vs Autopsy Report)

The cause of death is recorded in two main places in Kentucky: the death certificate and, when one was performed, the autopsy report. The two documents serve different purposes.

The Death Certificate

The death certificate is the official legal record of the date, place, and cause of every death in the state. A physician, coroner, or medical examiner completes the medical certification, which states the immediate cause of death and any underlying conditions.

This is the document most people use. A certified copy from the Office of Vital Statistics shows the cause of death on its face.

The Autopsy Report

When a death is sudden, violent, or otherwise falls under KRS Chapter 72, a coroner investigates and may order a post-mortem examination or autopsy. The Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner performs forensic autopsies to help determine the cause and manner of death.

The autopsy report contains far more detail than the certificate. Kentucky has no statute declaring that report public, so a request goes to the county coroner under the Open Records Act, and KRS 72.031 separately keeps autopsy photographs, visual images, and recordings closed to the public.

How to Request Records That Show the Cause of Death

To get the cause of death from the death certificate, apply to the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. You supply the decedent's full name, the date of death, and the county of death, along with your own information and the $6 fee.

Orders can be placed by mail to the Office of Vital Statistics at 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621, or online through the state's authorized vendor. The office does not issue photocopies, faxed copies, or non-certified copies; it mails a certified copy once it locates the record.

To get the autopsy report, submit a written request to the coroner in the Kentucky county where the death occurred. Final autopsy results usually take six to eight weeks, and if a death investigation is still open the report may stay confidential until the case and any legal proceedings conclude.

For autopsy photographs, other visual images, and video or audio recordings, KRS 72.031(1) limits release to a listed set of requesters. That list includes the spouse, children, and surviving parents, the personal representative of the decedent, and a law enforcement agency, county attorney, Commonwealth's attorney, public health officer, or coroner having a bona fide interest in the case.

Finding the Cause of Death for Older or Historical Deaths

For older Kentucky deaths, the cause of death becomes broadly available once the record ages into the public domain. Under KRS 213.131(5), death records in the state registrar's custody become public records 50 years after the date of death.

After that point, researchers and genealogists can access the records without showing any particular relationship to the decedent. Kentucky death records reach back to 1911, when statewide registration began.

For deaths within the past 50 years, you do not have to wait. Because the registrar must issue a certified copy to any applicant, you can order one showing the cause of death at any time by paying the $6 fee.

The Social Security Death Index is a useful starting point, but it confirms only the fact and date of death. It does not list a cause of death, so you will still need the certificate or autopsy report for that detail.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Access rules and fees can change. Confirm current requirements with the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics or the county coroner before you rely on them.

Sources

This page draws on the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, the Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner, and KRS 213.136, KRS 213.131, and KRS Chapter 72.

Back up to Kentucky Death Records or the hub Death Records by State.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find someone's cause of death in Kentucky?

Order a certified death certificate from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, which records the cause of death. Under KRS 213.136(1) the state registrar must issue a certified copy to any applicant, so any requester who pays the $6 fee and identifies the record can obtain it. For coroner cases, you can also request the autopsy report through the county coroner.

Is the cause of death public record in Kentucky?

The cause of death appears on the death certificate, and the registrar must issue a certified copy to any applicant who pays the fee, so anyone can reach it. The record itself becomes a public record under KRS 213.131(5) 50 years after the death. Coroner and autopsy files are separate records requested from the county coroner.

How can I find out how a relative died in Kentucky?

Start with the death certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics, which states the cause of death. If a coroner or medical examiner investigated the death, request the autopsy report from the county coroner. KRS 72.031(1) lists the spouse, children, surviving parents, and personal representative among those who may receive autopsy photographs and recordings.

Does the death certificate show the cause of death in Kentucky?

Yes. The medical certification on a Kentucky death certificate states the immediate cause of death and any underlying conditions. That information appears on the certified copy the state registrar issues.

How do I get a cause of death for an old death in Kentucky?

Under KRS 213.131(5), death records become public 50 years after the date of death. For older deaths you can access the record without proving a relationship; Kentucky records reach back to 1911. For more recent deaths, order a certified copy at any time.

Can anyone find out a cause of death in Kentucky?

Yes, for the death certificate. KRS 213.136(1) directs the state registrar to issue a certified copy of a vital record to any applicant, so Kentucky applies no requester-eligibility test; you need identifying details and the $6 fee. Fifty years after the death the record itself becomes a public record under KRS 213.131(5). Autopsy files are separate: they are requested from the county coroner, and KRS 72.031 keeps autopsy photographs and recordings closed to the public. An obituary is often the easiest free source.