Death certificates are not fully public record in PA. For the first 50 years after a person dies, the Pennsylvania Department of Health keeps the certificate confidential and will only issue certified copies to a defined list of eligible applicants. After 50 years, the record moves to the Pennsylvania State Archives and anyone can access it.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Birth and Death Certificates – Genealogy at the State Library of Pennsylvania
After 50 Years: Open to the Public
Once a Pennsylvania death certificate crosses the 50-year mark, it transfers to the State Archives and becomes a genealogy record anyone can view. Digitized versions are available through Ancestry.com, and Pennsylvania residents can use the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania collection free of charge through the State Archives partnership.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Birth and Death Certificates – Genealogy at the State Library of Pennsylvania
If the death you’re researching happened within the last 50 years, the archives route is closed to you. You’ll need to apply through the Department of Health and show that you qualify.
Who Can Request a Recent Death Certificate
You must be at least 18 and fit one of the categories the state recognizes. The list is broader than most people expect:2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Death Certificate
- Spouse or ex-spouse (an ex-spouse must show a direct interest in the record)
- Parent or step-parent (a step-parent provides the marriage certificate linking them to the biological parent)
- Children and stepchildren (stepchildren provide the parent’s marriage certificate)
- Siblings and half-siblings
- Grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
- A power of attorney
- An attorney or legal representative of the estate, with letters testamentary or letters of administration
- Anyone with a direct financial interest, such as a will beneficiary or named beneficiary on a life insurance policy, with documentation of that interest
- A government agency handling the estate, with an official letter
- Other extended family, who should expect to supply additional documentation
Applications outside these categories are denied. The certificate contains sensitive information including the deceased’s Social Security number and medical details, which is why the state polices access this way.
Cost and Processing Time
Each certified copy is $20.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Death Certificate Ordering online adds a $10 VitalChek service fee, so a single online copy runs $30.
Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable can receive up to 10 free copies. The waiver extends to the spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran and covers certificates for the veteran, their spouse, and dependent children, with documentation of military status submitted alongside the application.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More Veterans Now Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
Online and mailed applications currently take about three weeks to process.4Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Processing Times – Vital Records
How to Apply
You have three ways to submit the application. Before you start, gather the deceased’s full legal name, date of death, Social Security number, and the county of death. The name and date are required; the Social Security number and county help locate the record. You’ll also state your reason for the request, such as settling an estate or filing an insurance claim.5Pennsylvania Department of Health. Death Certificates Every applicant presents unexpired, government-issued photo ID, and if you want the copy mailed, the ID must show your current address.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Death Certificate
- Online through VitalChek, Pennsylvania’s only approved online vendor, at mycertificates.health.pa.gov. Credit card payment; order status is trackable.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Death Certificate
- By mail to the Division of Vital Records, Death Certificate Processing Unit, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, with a copy of your photo ID.5Pennsylvania Department of Health. Death Certificates
- In person at various state offices, with the completed application and valid ID.
With or Without Medical Information
Pennsylvania issues two versions of the certified copy. The version with medical information shows cause and manner of death, and it’s the one insurance companies, attorneys, and courts generally need. The version without medical information works for routine matters such as closing bank accounts, stopping utilities, or transferring property titles. If you aren’t sure which you need, the version with medical information covers all situations.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Request a Death Certificate
Medical Records Are Separate
Access to the death certificate is not access to the deceased’s medical records. Under HIPAA, a deceased person’s protected health information stays private for 50 years from the date of death, so hospitals, doctors, and insurers treat those records the way they’d treat a living patient’s.6eCFR. 45 CFR 164.502 – Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information: General Rules Executors and personal representatives can usually obtain them; a relative without that authority may be turned away. Letters testamentary or a court order help if you need the records for litigation or estate work.