How long does it take to get a death certificate in pa?

Answer 1

In Pennsylvania, death records can only be obtained by a legal representative of the decedent's estate, immediate family members, extended family members showing a direct relationship to the decedent, or an individual with power of attorney.

You can download an application from Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Records Division's website. There is a $9 fee for each certified copy. Check or money order should be made payable to Vital Records. This fee may be waived for individuals who served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces or their dependents. The Armed Forces fee waiver does not apply to genealogical requests. Be sure to include the signature and photo ID of the individual requesting the record. Typical processing time for certified copies of death certificates is 10 to 15 business days (from the date the check is cashed) which does not include delivery time.

You can also order it online through Vitalchek. You will get it quicker but they will charge additional fees.

There are also locations in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton that provide walk-in services. The processing time is about 3 hours.