How to Get a Death Certificate in Massachusetts

Death records are public in Massachusetts. Anyone can order a standard certified death certificate, and no proof of relationship is needed.

Since July 1, 2026, Massachusetts death certificates no longer show the deceased person's Social Security number (SSN) by default. A copy that includes the SSN is limited to people with a "legitimate need" who provide evidence. The state lists these people:

• Spouse or domestic partner
• Parent or legal guardian
• Child, grandchild or grandparent
• Sibling
• The informant listed on the death record
• The funeral director listed on the death record
• A conservator, personal representative or legal representative of the estate
• A government official who needs the SSN for official duties
• A person given access to the SSN by court order
• Any other person with a direct, tangible interest in the estate, at the discretion of the state Registrar or the local clerk where the death occurred

You must be at least 18 (or a legally emancipated minor) to request a copy with the SSN.

The evidence for each relationship is listed in the state's interim SSN guide. For example, a child sends a copy of their birth certificate listing the decedent as a parent, and a conservator representing the estate sends an original certified copy of the court appointment. The guide does not have a separate entry for an executor or personal representative, even though the ordering page lists personal representatives as eligible. If you are the estate's representative and need the SSN, contact RVRS at (617) 740-2600 or the local clerk to confirm what to send. The guide is labeled interim, so these rules may change.

Massachusetts records deaths town by town. There are no county vital records offices. You can order from the local city or town clerk or from the state Registry.

1. The city or town clerk (local)

Each city or town clerk records the deaths that happened in that community. The state's medical examiner office says death certificates "are issued from the city or town clerk where the death occurred." Some clerks also hold records for residents who died elsewhere in Massachusetts. Boston, for example, issues certificates for anyone who died in Boston or listed Boston as home. No statewide page confirms this for every town, so the clerk where the death happened is the safest place to start.

A clerk cannot issue a certificate for a death recorded in another town. Fees, hours, payment options and online ordering differ by town. As one example, Boston charges $12 per copy in person and $14 by mail or online. Local clerks are often cheaper than the state's online option. The state publishes a list of city and town clerk websites.

2. The state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS)

RVRS holds Massachusetts death records from 1936 to the present. Deaths from 1931 through 1935 have been moved to the Massachusetts State Archives. See the state's ordering page and fee page.

• In person: 150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. Registry counter hours are Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. On-site parking is $2 per hour, up to $6. $20 per copy. The fee page says in-person requests are processed immediately in most cases. Location details.
• Online: through VitalChek, linked from the state's ordering page. $54 for the first copy and $42 for each additional copy, which already includes VitalChek's $12 fee. Expedited orders cost $62.50 for the first copy and $50.50 for each additional copy. Optional UPS shipping is $12.50 (second day) or $19.50 (next day). Pay by Mastercard, Visa, AMEX or Discover.
• By phone: call VitalChek toll free at (866) 300-8535. Same prices as online. Research is not available by phone.
• By mail: send the mail order form to Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. $32 per copy, or $42 per copy expedited (address the envelope to the attention of Expedited Mail Service). Pay by check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Do not mail cash.

Processing times. The state's own pages give different numbers. For online orders, the ordering page says typically 7 to 10 business days, and the fee page says within 10 business days, or the next business day for expedited orders. Shipping time is extra. For standard mail, the ordering page says up to 30 business days and the fee page says 15 to 20 business days. Plan for up to 30 business days by standard mail. Call RVRS at (617) 740-2600 for current timing.

Every state fee covers a 10-year record search. If no record is found, you get a certified "Negative Statement" instead, and the fee is still charged.

Paying in person. The fee page says RVRS takes cash, check or money order in person, but the ordering page says you will be asked to pay by check or money order. Bring a check or money order to be safe.

• The application. By mail, use the state's mail order form.
• Photo ID. A government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport: the original in person, or a photocopy by mail. The mail form says it can be recently expired.
• If you do not have photo ID (mail orders): photocopies of at least two of the following: a work or school photo ID; personal documents such as a utility bill, W-2, pay stub, library card or military ID; a Massachusetts-issued ID card (RMV, SNAP, DTA and similar); or a correctional facility ID.
• Payment for the fee (see How to Order).
• For mail orders: a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope (letter size or larger) or a prepaid UPS or FedEx envelope.

If you need the SSN on the certificate, check the SSN box on the mail form, write your "legitimate need" category and include your evidence. The ID rules are stricter for these copies. The state's interim SSN guide asks for one unexpired document from List A (driver's license, government-issued photo ID card, passport or military ID). If you cannot get one, send two documents from List B, such as two consecutive utility bills, a Social Security card, a pay stub, a W-2, an insurance card, a school ID, a bank statement, a government photo ID expired up to 2 years, an inmate ID or paperwork, or a state benefits card such as SNAP.

The state Registry issues only certified copies, whatever the intended use. There is no informational or uncertified version from RVRS. A certified copy signed by the town clerk or the state registrar is accepted as evidence of the record under Massachusetts law.

The real choice in Massachusetts is whether the certificate shows the deceased person's Social Security number. Since July 1, 2026, it does not unless an eligible person asks for it and provides proof (see Who Can Order). Some banks, insurers or agencies may ask for the SSN, so check with them before you order.

The doctor, hospital or medical examiner must provide the medical part of the death certificate right away. The funeral director then adds personal details, such as date of birth, marital status, occupation and address, which come from the closest living relative. The funeral director may get the burial permit, and the death certificate is filed electronically with the city or town clerk where the death occurred.

The state's medical examiner office says the funeral director will get a copy of the death certificate for the family and may order copies for the closest living relative. Most families get their first copies this way.

No official page gives a set number of days before certified copies are ready. Because the record goes to the local clerk first, the clerk where the death occurred is usually the first place to order. The state does not publish how long it takes for a recent death to reach RVRS, so contact the office to confirm before ordering from the state.

If the cause of death is "pending." When the medical examiner needs more testing, the certificate is still filed with the cause listed as pending. You can get an updated copy from the city or town clerk once the cause is confirmed (how death certificates are completed). If the cause of death on the certificate is listed as "pending" or "homicide," the Probate and Family Court requires an Affidavit as to Cause of Death (MPC 475) with a voluntary administration filing (court instructions).

Many banks, insurers and agencies want their own certified copy, and some keep it. Ordering a few extra at the start usually saves time, especially since state mail orders can take weeks. See our guide on how many copies to estimate your number.

To correct a death record, you need evidence that the information was wrong at or near the time of death. The state says the process begins at the city or town clerk where the death took place, so ask that clerk what evidence and paperwork are needed.

You can also contact the state Registry's Amendment Unit at (617) 740-2674 or RVRSAmendments@mass.gov. In-person amendments at the Registry require an appointment. Ask the Registry what can be handled by mail.

• Fee: $50 per amendment at the state Registry.
• Timing: mail and court requests are generally reviewed within 3 to 4 months.
• New copies: a corrected copy may not be sent to you automatically, so plan to order new certified copies once the change is made ($20 in person or $32 by mail from the state).

Cause-of-death information comes from the doctor or medical examiner. If the cause was listed as pending, the updated certificate comes through the city or town clerk once the cause is confirmed.

The official places to order a Massachusetts death certificate are:

• The city or town clerk where the death occurred, through the clerk's own official website or office.
• The state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, in person, by mail, or online and by phone through VitalChek, as linked from the state's ordering page.

Other websites may look official but are run by private companies and may charge extra fees. We saw vitalrec.com, a private site, linked from one state page as a way to find a clerk. It is not a government site. To be safe, start from mass.gov or your city or town's official website and follow its links.