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 OnlineDelaware.gov Certificates

Order In-Person or by MailThe 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 DirectorsOrder OnlineThe 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.GoCertificatesGoCertificates 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 NetworkVitalChek 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=famRequestFormAdditional PDFs to Download: APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED COPY OF DEATH CERTIFICATE 

AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL DECEDENT INFORMATION BY THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE