How do I get a copy of a death certificate?

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Vital Records (state level - St. Paul) / County Vital Records Office (county level - fastest)

Step by Step

How to do it

Note: Minnesota death records are generally PUBLIC DATA - accessible to the general public for information purposes. For CERTIFIED copies (for legal/official use), tangible interest is required.
Choose your method:
IN PERSON (County Vital Records Office - FASTEST): Visit the county vital records office in the county where death occurred or where deceased resided; bring valid photo ID; same-day service in most cases; find county offices at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/birth.html (Directory of County Offices)
BY MAIL OR FAX (State MDH): Complete MDH death record application; include photocopy of valid photo ID; notarized signature may be required for certified copies; check or money order payable to "Minnesota Department of Health"; mail to MDH, P.O. Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499; MDH does NOT offer in-person service
ONLINE (VitalChek - expedited): Additional fees
VERIFY DEATH (Online - free): MDH's Verify a Death tool at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/verify - confirms if person is deceased and provides date of death; useful for genealogy or basic verification; does NOT provide certified copy
Submit with valid photo ID
Pay the fee

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Completed death record application
Valid government-issued photo ID
Payment: check or money order for mail; card for county in-person or VitalChek

Fee

Check current MDH fee schedule at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords; fees nonrefundable even if record not found; county office fees may vary slightly

Processing Time

County in-person: immediate (same day); MDH mail/fax: days to weeks; VitalChek: expedited

Online Option

VitalChek (authorized expedited vendor); MDH Verify a Death (free, non-certified verification from 1997-present)

Where to Go

County Vital Records Office (fastest - same-day in-person service); MDH (mail/fax only); VitalChek online

County-specific variations apply

County vital records offices provide fastest access to death records. MDH has statewide records from 1908 to present; county offices hold records for their county. Minnesota Historical Society has death records 1904-2001 for genealogical research (free to access at MHS library). Records before 1908 at the county where death occurred.

Minnesota Notes

Important state-specific details

Death records are PUBLIC DATA in Minnesota - accessible without proving relationship.
Certified copies still require tangible interest documentation for certain purposes.
Verify a Death (online, free, 1997-present): health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/verify.
Order multiple certified copies at once - estates, insurance, SSA, VA each need copies.
Funeral homes assist with initial filing for recent deaths.
MDH does NOT offer walk-in in-person service - go to county for fastest access.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Minnesota MDH Office of Vital Records - health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords | (651) 201-5970 | P.O. Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499