Delaware Death Records

Over the last few years, Delaware has had a relatively stable death rate trend, with an average of 10,731 deaths recorded each year and an age-adjusted mortality rate of 825.4 per 100,000 persons. This is a little higher than the national average, which stands at 805.6 per 100,000 United States' total population.

While there are records of death events dating back to the 1850s in the state, Delaware did not officially start recording deaths until 1913, following the establishment of the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Each county's Recorder of Deeds was responsible for registering death events before 1913. Delaware death records are commonly issued as death certificates. A death certificate primarily helps to verify a person's death, but it also serves several other purposes. It contains the deceased's personal data and other important information regarding the death, including the time of date, the place of death, the date of death, and the cause of death.

In Delaware, an original death certificate is filed with the Office of Vital Statistics by a funeral director after a person's death. Filing is usually done within a few days after death unless an official death investigation is required. Afterward, eligible members of the public may request certified copies of the death certificate. On the contrary, the original death certificate remains permanently in the file of the Office of Vital Statistics.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Delaware?

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is the official custodian of death records in Delaware. Eligible persons may obtain certified copies of death certificates in the state from the DHSS's Office of Vital Statistics in person or by mail.

An applicant should take the following steps to submit a mail-in request for a certified copy of a Delaware death certificate to the DHSS:

• Complete the Application for a Certified Copy of a Delaware Death Certificate.
• Photocopy a valid photo ID, such as a state ID, driver's license, or work ID, and attach it to the application.
• Pay a $25 fee for each certified copy of the death certificate requested. Make the money order or check payable to the State of Delaware.
• Mail the application form, the photocopied ID, and payment to the DHHS at:

While ordering certified copies of a Delaware death certificate by mail is convenient, it may take a while before the applicant gets the requested documents due to mailing time. In most cases, this may take up to a few weeks.

Alternatively, individuals may request certified copies of Delaware death certificates in person by submitting completed application forms and every other requirement at any of the following DHSS locations:

In-person applications are not processed the same day as submitting the requests. Typically, it takes about 2 to 3 weeks for the Office of Vital Statistics to process in-person death certificate requests and issue certified copies of such certificates.

Are Delaware Death Records Public?

Generally, Delaware death records are considered confidential records and are not open to public inspection or copying unless they are at least 40 years old. In other words, per Section 3110 of the state's Code, these records do not become public documents or information until 40 years have elapsed after the date of death. Delaware death records under 40 years after the date of the death event are made confidential to protect the integrity of the records and ensure their proper use.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Delaware?

Original Delaware death certificates are not public documents and may not be released to anyone. An original death certificate becomes indefinitely preserved in the file of the state's Office of Vital Statistics once the death is registered. While state law restricts public access to death certificates for 40 years after the death of a person, anyone may obtain copies of these certificates once 40 years have passed since the date of death. However, only certain individuals may request copies for death events that are still under 40 years, and they include the following:

• The decedent's parents or legal guardians.
• The deceased's spouse.
• The deceased's children.
• Authorized agent, such as a legal representative or an attorney.
• Other immediate family members who can provide acceptable proof of relationship to the deceased. They must also state the reason for requesting copies of the death certificate.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Delaware?

How long it takes to get a copy of a Delaware death certificate after a person's death generally depends on the circumstances around the death. Under normal circumstances, a death certificate must be registered with the state's Office of Vital Statistics within 3 days after a person's death. Afterward, eligible persons may request copies of the certificate and get them within 2 to 3 weeks after the request. However, if the cause of death cannot be determined within 48 hours of a person's death, an autopsy is usually required to determine it. In this case, the healthcare professional responsible for certifying the cause of death will file a pending death certificate while an autopsy is initiated.

An autopsy generally extends the timeline of getting a copy of a final death certificate in Delaware. However, how long this takes varies, depending on several factors, including the complexity of the case and the need for additional investigations and testing before preparing a final death certificate. On average, it takes 12 to 16 weeks to finalize an autopsy report in Delaware, without which a final death certificate cannot be prepared. In more complicated cases, it may take well over 16 weeks before a complete autopsy report is available. This entire process extends the time it takes to file a final, original death certificate with the state's Office of Vital Statistics, which ultimately affects how long it takes to obtain copies of the death certificate.

Can I View Delaware Death Records Online for Free?

Yes. Sources like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org have several publicly available Delaware death records in digitized forms and allow members of the public to access such records for free. However, interested persons may have to create online accounts to enable them to access the records.

Similarly, other reliable third-party websites like Delawarepublicrecords.us maintain databases of publicly available death records in the state. However, a person will have to pay a small fee to access record search services offered by third-party sites.

Furthermore, individuals may check other free sources for death information in Delaware, especially where a death event is not officially registered with the relevant state agency. Examples of these sources are probate records, military records, tax records, tombstone inscriptions, cemetery records, obituaries, and city directories. Others include family bible records, census records, court records, deeds and land records, pension records, and funeral memorial cards.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Delaware?

An individual would require copies of a death certificate for the following purposes in Delaware:

• Filing life insurance claims.
• Transferring a deceased's assets, including cars and real estate, to authorized beneficiaries as stipulated in the decedent's will.
• Notifying certain government agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), about a person's death to enable them to update their records.
• Preparing for the funeral.
• Notifying a decedent's credit card company about the person's death and canceling the deceased's credit cards.
• Informing the deceased's lender and brokerage company about the person's passing.
• Notifying a deceased's bank to close or transfer the decedent's accounts.
• Filing a petition to stop the payment of certain benefits to the deceased's accounts and requesting the continuous payment of Medicaid benefits, pensions, veteran benefits (if applicable), and other employer benefits to the decedent's survivors.
• Canceling a deceased person's subscriptions to utility services.
• Pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.
• Getting married

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Delaware?

Several factors must be considered when determining the number of copies of a death certificate anyone needs in Delaware. While this number varies, requesting 8 to 12 copies of any death certificate in the state will go a long way in addressing various legal and administrative matters after an individual's death. As a general rule, a person should consider the following before deciding the actual number of death certificate copies they need in Delaware:

• The number of entities, public or private, requiring a copy of a death certificate.
• The size of the deceased's estate and family size.
• The preference of the agencies or institutions that need a copy of the death certificate. While some may accept photocopies, others may insist on getting a certified copy of the certificate.
• The number of business transactions for which copies of the certificate are required.
• Unforeseen situations (it is ideal to have extra copies).