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

Cause of death in Kentucky appears on the death certificate, which is an open record. Because Kentucky is an open-record state, 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 cause and manner of death are also public.

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. Kentucky is an open-record state, so any requester who pays the fee and identifies the record can order a certified copy 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 cause and manner of death are part of the public record, and the family can request the autopsy report through the county coroner.

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?

Yes. Because Kentucky issues certified death certificates to any requester who pays the fee, the cause of death printed on that certificate is effectively public. Eligibility is not the gatekeeper in Kentucky; correct identifying information and the $6 fee are.

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.

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, Kentucky treats the basic facts differently from the clinical detail. The cause and manner of death are public record, while the rest of the autopsy report is handled like a confidential medical record.

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. The cause and manner of death from that report are public, but the full report is released only to eligible requesters such as the next-of-kin.

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.

Eligible requesters for the full autopsy report include the immediate next-of-kin, the legal representative of the decedent's estate, law enforcement, and the decedent's treating physicians.

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 Kentucky is open-record, you can order a certified copy 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 213.131 and KRS Chapter 72.

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