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Massachusetts · How-To Guide

How do I get a copy of a death certificate?

Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics - RVRS (state level - Dorchester/Boston) / City or Town Clerk (municipal level - where death occurred or where deceased was a resident)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine which office holds the record:
  2. - Death occurred 1936-present: RVRS (state) OR city/town clerk (where death occurred OR for residents whose out-of-town Massachusetts death is also on file at the home town clerk)
  3. - Death occurred 1841-1935: Massachusetts Archives
  4. - Death occurred before 1841: city/town clerk where death occurred or Massachusetts Archives
  5. Determine eligibility: Massachusetts death records are restricted for deaths less than 50 years old - eligible requesters include immediate family members and legal representatives; deaths 50+ years old are generally public.
  6. Choose your method:
  7. IN PERSON (State RVRS): 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125; $20/copy; processed immediately in most cases
  8. IN PERSON (City/Town Clerk): Contact the clerk where death occurred or where the deceased was a resident - typically $10-$15/copy; often faster; call ahead
  9. BY MAIL (State RVRS): Complete application; valid photo ID copy; self-addressed envelope; check or money order to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts"; standard: $32/copy (15-20 business days); expedited: $42/copy (10 business days)
  10. ONLINE/PHONE: VitalChek - additional fees; all major credit cards
  11. MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES (1841-1935): $3/copy; allow up to 12 weeks
  12. Submit with valid photo ID and proof of qualifying relationship
  13. Pay the fee
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Completed death certificate application
  • Valid government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of qualifying relationship (for deaths less than 50 years old)
  • Payment: cash/check/money order for in-person or mail; card for VitalChek
Processing Time
In person: immediate; mail: 15-20 business days standard; 10 business days expedited
Online Option
Yes - VitalChek
Where to Go
City/Town Clerk where death occurred (often faster and less expensive); RVRS in Dorchester (state office)
Massachusetts Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Death records less than 50 years old: restricted; 50+ years old: generally publicly accessible.
  • Free digitized records 1841-1927/1930 available on FamilySearch.org.
  • State RVRS mail fees significantly higher than most states ($32 standard; $42 expedited).
  • Order multiple copies at once - estates, insurance, banks, SSA, VA each need a copy.
  • Funeral homes assist with initial filing for recent deaths.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Massachusetts RVRS - mass.gov/rvrs | (617) 740-2600 | [email protected] | 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125