Ordering a Death Certificate & Autopsy Report
Once the initial death certificate has been filed, Parsell
Funeral Homes & Crematorium cannot retrieve additional certified copies of
the death certificate. Additional Certified copies can be obtained in the
following manner:
If Death Occurred 1980 and prior:
The Delaware Public Archives holdings contain death
certificates older than 40 years. Please contact the Archives via their Contact
Form and choose the category "Death Certificates" or call (302)
744-5000 to request a certified copy of your certificate(s). Contact Form:
https://archives.delaware.gov/contact-dpa/
If death occurred 1981 to the present:
The Office of Vital Statistics holdings contain death
certificates newer than 40 years. Please contact the Office of Vital Statistics
at (302) 744-4549 or online to order a certified copy of your certificate(s).
Obtaining Records In-Person, by Mail or Online
Delaware.gov Certificates
Order In-Person or by Mail
The public can obtain individual copies of birth, death,
adoptee, marriage, and same-gender marriage through the following:
In person at any of three locations around the
state
A written request to the Office of Vital
Statistics located in the Jesse S. Cooper Building in Dover (see address on the
form)
Using the following forms:
Same-Gender Marriage Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Birth Certificate
Adoptee’s Birth Certificate
Death Certificate
Death Certificate for Funeral Directors
Order Online
The public can also obtain individual copies of birth,
death, adoptee, marriage and same-gender marriage online. The Delaware Office
of Vital Statistics does not accept credit cards through the internet or online
orders for records. For your convenience, however, you can process online
requests for records through the independent companies that we have partnered
with to provide you this service. The Office of Vital Statistics also protects
the confidentiality and legality of all vital records in its possession. The
Vital Statistics Review Subcommittee, an interdivisional panel, reviews all
requests for information for research and investigation prior to the release of
information to others.
GoCertificates
GoCertificates can be reached through its website by
clicking the link above or going to www.GoCertificates.com. An additional fee
is charged by GoCertificates.com, Inc. for using this service, and all major
credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard®
or Visa®.
VitalChek Network
VitalChek can be reached either through its website,
www.vitalchek.com, or by phone at 1-877-888-0248. An additional fee is charged
by VitalChek Network, Inc. for using this service, and all major credit cards
are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.
Legal requests from authorized representatives must use the
OVS legal template, be on official letterhead, and state the purpose of the
request. If the applicant is an authorized representative of a client other
than the registrant, the applicant must explain how the vital record will be
used, demonstrate the client’s relationship to the registrant (e.g., attach
documents that show a relationship such as birth or marriage certificates,
Register of Wills Short Certificate/Form 6, and/or court order), and state the
law/regulation(s) that makes the applicant eligible to receive the requested
vital record.
How to Request a Copy of an Autopsy Report
A copy of an autopsy report may be released following a written request from the legal next of kin. The request should include the name of the decedent, date of death (if known) and the relationship to the deceased. Requests from insurance companies and attorneys must include an authorization that is signed by the legal next of kin as investigative information and autopsy reports are considered confidential and not public records. As a result, autopsy reports will not be released without proper documentation or authorization. Please note the following:
1. Depending on the complexity of the case, the autopsy report could require in excess of 12 weeks from the date of death to be completed.
2. Cases with a criminal investigation may require approval from the Attorney General’s office prior to release of the autopsy reports
To Submit your request by mail:
Fill out the appropriate request Family or Next of Kin, or Legal & Insurance Professionals along with a Notarized Authorization for Release of Confidential Information signed by the deceased’s next of kin.
Mail the request to:
Delaware Division of Forensic Science
Attention: Request for Report
200 S. Adams Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Alternatively, you may instead submit your request online:
Family or Next of Kin Request or Legal & Insurance Professionals Request.
You are required to provide a Notarized Authorization for Release of Confidential Information signed by the deceased's next of kin along with your request.
https://forensics.delaware.gov/forms/index.shtml?dc=famRequestForm
Additional PDFs to Download:
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED COPY OF DEATH CERTIFICATE
AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL DECEDENT INFORMATION BY THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE