How to Get a Death Certificate in Idaho

Idaho death certificates are confidential for 50 years. During that time, a certified copy goes only to someone with a "direct and tangible interest" in the record. The state describes that as immediate family, legal representatives, or people who can show they need the record to claim a property right.

The request form lists these relationships:

• Current spouse
• Parent
• Child
• Brother or sister
• Grandchild
• Grandparent
• Attorney or other legal representative
• Legal guardian
• Government agency
• Other (for example, someone who needs the record to claim a property right)

Spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandchildren and grandparents may be asked for proof of relationship. Attorneys, legal guardians, government agencies and anyone checking "Other" must send proof with the order. The state does not publish a list of which documents count as proof, so executors who are not immediate family can contact Idaho Vital Records at 208-334-5980 to confirm what to send.

After 50 years from the date of death, the record becomes public.

All Idaho death certificates come from the state office, the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics in Boise, no matter which county the death happened in. The office does not have a public counter, so there is no walk-in service. Every request goes in online or by mail.

Online through VitalChek

• Order at VitalChek, the state's official online partner. All credit card orders go through VitalChek.
• Cost: $16 per copy plus a $10.50 non-refundable VitalChek fee. Rush processing is $10 extra, and UPS expedited shipping is $21 for most areas.
• You may be asked to fax ID to VitalChek to finish the order.
• The state says online orders typically arrive faster because there is no mail time or check to process.

By mail

• Fill out the Idaho Vital Records Certificate Request Form - Death (a Spanish version is also available).
• Mail it with your ID copy and payment to: Idaho Vital Records, PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0036.
• Pay by signed check or money order made out to Idaho Vital Records. Regular US mail delivery has no shipping charge.
• For rush processing, check the RUSH box, add $10, and write RUSH on the outside of the envelope.

Processing time

The state's processing times page says 3-5 weeks for standard orders and 2-3 weeks for rush orders, counted from when a complete order arrives and not including delivery. The older mail form (revised 06/2025) lists shorter times, so check the state's current processing times before you order.

A few things to know:

• Rush cannot be added to an order you have already sent.
• Incomplete orders (unsigned check, unsigned form, or an unclear ID copy) get a letter asking for the missing piece, which doubles the processing time.
• Questions: call 208-334-5980 or email ivr@dhw.idaho.gov.

For a mail order, send:

• The completed and signed death certificate request form
• A copy of both sides of your current, signed government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or tribal ID
• Proof of relationship or legal interest, if you are an attorney, guardian, government agency or "Other" requester
• A signed check or money order for $16 per copy, plus $10 if you want rush

If you don't have a photo ID, the form lists other options: two current IDs from the state's approved list (one must have a signature), having your signature notarized on the form, or having an immediate family member with acceptable ID order for you.

ID copies that don't clearly show the signature and expiration date will not be processed.

Idaho does not offer a separate "informational" copy of a recent death certificate. Instead, you can choose between two kinds of certified copy, both $16:

• Certified Copy: computer generated.
• Certified Photocopy: an exact image of the record on file.

The state says both are valid for most legal purposes. If a bank, insurer or court asks for a specific type, check with them before you order.

By Idaho law, the person in charge of burial or removal of the body, usually the funeral home, is responsible for gathering the information and filing the death certificate. Personal details come from a family member (the "informant"), and the medical section comes from the doctor, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or coroner.

• The death certificate must be filed within five days of the death.
• The medical certifier has 72 hours from the time of death to certify the cause of death.
• In hardship cases, the certificate can be filed first without the cause of death, and the medical certification follows within 15 days.

Copies can only be ordered once the certificate is filed and complete. Ask your funeral home whether the certificate has been filed, and whether they can order copies for you, before placing your own order.

Many banks, insurers, and agencies want their own certified copy, so most families order several. In Idaho each copy costs the same $16, so there is no discount for ordering more at once, but ordering together saves a second wait. See our guide on how many copies to estimate your number.

Corrections go to Idaho Vital Records by mail using the Correction Request Form - Death. See the state's change a death certificate page for details.

• Who can ask: the informant, the next of kin, the funeral director who signed the certificate, or the certifying doctor or coroner.
• Cost: free if the documents arrive within the first year after the death, $20 after that.
• Paperwork: changes generally need a notarized affidavit, and after the first year, supporting documents. Cause-of-death changes need a notarized affidavit from the doctor or coroner who certified it.
• One change per item: an item can only be amended once. A second change needs an Idaho court order.
• Processing: about 3-4 weeks, or 1-2 weeks with a $25 rush fee.
• Exchanging copies: if you return an incorrect certified copy within 60 days of the correction, a corrected copy is $5 each.

Questions about corrections: IVRLA@dhw.idaho.gov.

Idaho has only two official ways to order: by mail to Idaho Vital Records, or online through VitalChek, which the state names as its official online partner. The state warns that several third-party companies charge extra, unnecessary fees to help people get Idaho vital records.

Some sites also list outdated prices. The official fee is $16 per copy. Sites we saw offering Idaho death certificate help or information include simplytrust.com, everplans.com, searchsystems.net and raogk.org. None of these are official Idaho sources.

We found no Idaho county office that issues death certificates to the public. Start at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare ordering page.