Washington D.C. Death Records

Are Death Certificates Public in the District of Columbia

Only death certificates older than 75 years and dating back to 1874 are open to the public in the District of Columbia. All other death records are closed and can only be obtained by legally entitled persons with the required documents. These legally entitled individuals are the only ones who can perform a District of Columbia death record search.

In addition, DC Health prohibits access to death certificates that are not part of the public death record to safeguard the identity and privacy of District of Columbia residents. This is because personal information, like the decedent's social security number, last known address, and spouse's name, are present in the death certificate. Therefore, confidential public records are restricted to the decedent’s spouse, domestic partner, parent, adult child or sibling, grandparents, legal guardian, legal representatives, and law enforcement agents.

A record seeker can conduct a District of Columbia death record search to obtain certified copies of open and closed death records through the State Vital Records Office. DC death certificates can be requested online by phone, mail, or via automated kiosks. In contrast, individuals seeking archived copies of public death records can perform a death record search in the District of Columbia Office of Public Records.

What Shows Up on Death Records in Washington, D.C.?

Death records in the District of Columbia (DC) are official documents registering deaths in the nation’s capital. In DC, death certificates are the death records provided to those eligible to receive them. A DC death certificate contains identifying information about the decedent and those close to them. A typical DC death record contains the following details:

• Full name of the deceased
• Age, gender, and race of the deceased
• Names of the deceased’s birth parents
• The decedent's social security number
• Name of the decedent’s spouse or domestic partner
• Last known address of the deceased
• Birth records, including the date and place of birth of the deceased
• Date and place of death of the deceased
• Cause of death
• Name and signature of the medical officer, coroner, or physician providing a cause of death
• Name and signature of the funeral director responsible for the deceased’s final arrangements
• Death record registration number

Living relatives of the deceased require copies of the deceased’s death certificate to be able to provide legal proof of their passing. Like most DC vital records, this document is required to execute the deceased’s will, close their bank accounts, and claim pension and insurance benefits. A DC death certificate may also prove important in court cases involving parentage, guardianship, and estate matters.

The District of Columbia records and registers every death within its borders to better understand trends within its population. Such data are needed to estimate population growth and age distribution within the population to develop vital statistics and public health statistics. Metrics calculated from these outcomes are useful when allocating resources for the federal district.

Genealogists, social scientists, and medical researchers may also require DC death records for their studies. Genealogists use these documents to trace lineages and establish family histories. Social scientists use them in socioeconomic studies, while medical scientists need death records for epidemiological studies.

How are Death Records Created in the District of Columbia?

The process of preparing a death record begins with the funeral director or the head of the establishment handling the final arrangements of the deceased. The director of the funeral home or crematorium completes the information required on the death certificate. They may need to speak with the family of the deceased for such personal information such as names of the decedent’s spouse/domestic partner and birth parents as well as the decedent’s birth record, information and address.

The funeral director then contacts the doctor or coroner that called the time of death of the deceased or performed the autopsy on the body. This professional provides a cause of death and signs the death certificate to certify their conclusions. When all details requested on the document have been provided, the funeral director then signs the certificate before returning it to the DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD). This agency then registers the death and seals the document.The United States death registry will receive the death record, which will then be included in the United States death records. Thereafter, only those deemed eligible may request copies of the certified death certificate.

How to Find Death Records Online in the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia does not have an online portal for accessing its vital records. Vital records like death, marriage and divorce records are sealed for a long while in this federal district. Therefore, members of the public cannot look up death records for the district. However, they can request for certified copies of these records online as long as they are eligible to receive them. Note that the DCVRD does not directly receive online requests for death records. Rather, it assigns the task to an approved third-party record processor.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

• The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
• The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

Death Record Search by Name in the District of Columbia

Researchers who want to conduct a District of Columbia death record search by name can do so by using a Public Records Research Form provided by the DC Office of Public Records. Click on "Request Death Certificate" when the page opens, the researcher will be required to answer if the death certificate requested is before or after the 75-year margin. If approved, the researcher will be required to fill in the following information:

• First and last name of the researcher
• Email address and phone number of the researcher
• The deceased's first and last name
• The deceased's date of death

Note that only District of Columbia death certificates older than 75 years can be obtained through this method. Responses to death record search by name are usually made by email.

Death Record Search by Address

The District of Columbia Vital Records Department does not make provisions for a death record search by address. The only available option is a death record search by name.

How to Find Death Records for Free in the District of Columbia

Death records are not freely available in the District of Columbia. The DCVRD charges for certified copies of death certificates provided to those requesting them. The federal district does not allow the public to access open and closed death records online or at its office for free. However, it may be possible to freely access archived DC death records in person at the Office of Public Records.

How to Obtain Death Records in District of Columbia

The DC Health Vital Records Division is the agency tasked with providing vital records including death records in the federal district. It accepts requests for District of Columbia death certificates in these four ways:

• In person
• By mail
• Online
• By phone

Requests submitted online and by phone are processed through an approved third-party record provider. Check the remote ordering service provider section of the Vital Records page on the DCVRD website for more information. Call (877) 572-6332 to order DC death certificates by phone.

To order copies of death certificates in the District of Columbia in person, one must make an appointment with the DCVRD. Make the appointment online or call (202) 442-9303. When making an appointment by phone, choose option 1 and then option 9 following the appropriate voice prompts.

The DCVRD sets some rules for appointments made to obtain vital records. These include:

• An appointment holder can only bring one other guest to the appointment
• All visitors must wear masks that cover their mouths and noses to their appointments
• Appointment holders must arrive promptly for their appointments. They may be late for no longer than 15 minutes. Those arriving later than 15 minutes from their scheduled times may be asked to reschedule their appointments

To request for copies of a DC death certificate by mail, start by downloading and completing the Death Certificate Application. Enclose a photocopy or scanned copy of current government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms of identification include:

• State-issued driver’s license
• State-issued non-driver’s ID card
• Passport or passport card
• Permanent resident card
• Employment authorization card
• Department of State card
• Military ID Card
• Law enforcement ID
• Government employee ID

Those presenting law enforcement IDs must be law enforcement officers requesting specific death certificates. Therefore, they must also include DC Superior Court subpoenas with their requests. Similarly, employees of the DC government requesting death records must present their employee IDs. Such employees can only be licensed social workers or government representatives with pre-existing approval from the State Registrar.

A requester with none of the primary photo IDs listed above may present two of the following documents:

• Valid unexpired employment ID card (with photo) and a pay stub (dated within the last 60 days)
• Expired (within the last three years) state-issued driver’s license, non-driver’s ID card, or passport
• Photo ID from a school in a U.S. state or territory (within the last 3 years) with a report card, transcript, or other proof of school enrollment (within the last three years)
• Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons photo ID or probation/discharge papers with photo
• Signed Social Security card or Social Security Disbursement Statement
• Unexpired vehicle registration/title
• U.S. Selective Service card
• Voter’s registration card issued within the last three years
• Federal Census records issued within the last three years
• Filed Court documents
• Pay stub (issued within last 30 days)
• Utility bill (dated within the last 60 days)
• Valid DC ONE card
• W2 from the previous year
• DD214 military discharge/separation document
• Hospital Newborn Discharge document related to a birth occurring within the last year
• Official correspondence from US Citizenship and Immigration Services

If the Vital Records kiosk, which possesses vital records like death, marriage, and divorce records, is unable to authenticate the identity of the requester, they will be required to present one of the primary IDs outlined above and two of the following documents:

• Social Security card
• Vehicle registration/title
• Utility bill (dated within the last 60 days)
• Sealed court documents
• W2 or filed US tax return from the previous year
• Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons photo ID or probation/discharge papers with photo

In addition to the right identification, a requester must also present proof of their relationship to the deceased to demonstrate that they are eligible to receive the record requested. This can be a birth certificate, a court order, or an agreement signed by the deceased showing that you represent them.

Each mail request must also include, in addition to a completed application, proof of relationship, and valid ID, payment for the number of records requested. Send the completed request to:

Vital Record Mail Services
ATTN: DC Vital Records
P.O. Box 222130
El Paso, TX 79913

Do not include a prepaid express mail envelope in your request.

While the DCVRD provides certified and informational copies of open DC death records, the DC Office of Public Records also provides access to open DC death records. These are archived documents that have become public records after the 75-year seal on these records have elapsed.

To obtain copies of public DC death records from the Public Records office, visit its location at:

1300 Naylor Court, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Alternatively, call (202) 671-1105 to inquire about the availability of the records sought. This office opens to the public from Monday to Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Research hours are 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Death Certificate in the District of Columbia?

No. Death records are not public in DC for the first 75 years after preparing them. During this period, only certain individuals directly related and with tangible interest, to the deceased can access them. Individuals that can get a copy of a death certificate must have one of the following relationships to the decedent:

• Spouse
• Domestic partner
• Birth parents
• Adult child
• Adult sibling
• Grandparent
• Legal guardian
• Legal representative

Each party must show or present proof of their relationship to the deceased. A spouse, domestic partner, or parent deemed eligible must be the one listed on the death certificate. Children and siblings must provide certified birth certificates, while legal guardians must provide certified court orders naming them to this role.

A legal representative must present a copy of the retainer agreement made with the deceased or any of the eligible parties, a valid bar card, and a letter on their firm’s letterhead stating the need for the death record. A grandparent must present proof that they need the death certificate to assert a personal or property right or to settle an insurance claim, a court matter, or an estate dispute. The same proof is required from any third party not directly related to the decedent but requesting copies of a DC death certificate.

The District of Columbia requires law enforcement agents seeking copies of death records to provide valid subpoenas from DC Superior Courts authorizing the release of these records.

How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost in the District of Columbia?

The DCVRD charges $18 for each copy of a DC death certificate, regardless of the method of request. This is the same fee for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously. Note that the DC only allows a maximum of five additional copies to be requested. There is an additional $6 charge for a request submitted online or over the phone via the approved third-party record processor.

There is no extra fee for requesters choosing delivery via the U.S. Postal Service Regular Mail. However, expedited delivery via UPS costs extra. There are different UPS delivery options available. The cost for UPS Next Day Air delivery to any location in the continental U.S. is $20. UPS delivery to Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico is $40. Delivering death certificate copies to Canada or Mexico via UPS costs $26. UPS Worldwide Expedited Delivery costs $36.50.

The DCVRD accepts personal checks, money orders, and credit cards for payment.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in the District of Columbia?

It takes 2 - 4 weeks to process each request for a death certificate. This does not include the time taken to receive a mail request. After processing, Regular Mail delivery takes 5 - 7 days. Expedited delivery via UPS may be faster.

How Long to Keep Records After Death

Surviving relatives and legal representatives of the decedent may keep the deceased’s records at any time. Generally, financial records should be maintained for at least five years or long enough to be used for any pending tax audit. Personal and property records of the deceased should be kept by those inheriting the estate to claim outstanding benefits and present in court if disputes arise concerning the deceased’s estate.

How to Expunge Death Records in the District of Columbia

Expungement refers to the permanent erasure of a record. This mostly applies to criminal records deleted following pardons or overturned convictions. DC does not allow expunging death records and makes no provisions for such. Expungement of death records might alter the information used in various scientific and research data like vital and public health statistics.

How to Seal Death Records in the District of Columbia

There is no need to take any step to seal a DC death record after it is prepared. The district seals all death records for 75 years by default. These also become automatically unsealed after 75 years. It is highly unlikely that a DC court will accept sealing an open death record after this period.

How to Unseal Death Records in the District of Columbia

DC does not make provisions for unsealing death records while they are sealed. Those deemed ineligible to access these records need to appeal their eligibility to qualify to look up or get copies of DC death records. Alternatively, they may wait for 75 years when the records become unsealed and available in the public domain.

How to Use the District of Columbia Death Registry

When a person dies, their immediate family members may publish DC death notices to inform the general public of the event. Also, the DC Department of Health (DOH) requires funeral directors to use the DC death registry (also called Electronic Death Registration System) to electronically submit the death report of the person within five days of occurrence (§ 7–231.12 DC Code). While medical facility staff must complete death certification via EDRS within 48 hours after death. Family members can publish DC death notices before or after the registration.

The medical professionals and funeral directors who want to use EDRS can register to gain access and request training tutorials from the State Vital Records Office. Typically, the funeral director uses EDRS to provide the deceased person’s personal data and enter the medical certifier’s name. When all required fields are filled, the funeral director then transfers the case to the medical certifier. Upon receiving the case, the medical certifier must provide the deceased person’s medical information, including the manner and cause of death.

When a death registration is complete, the record is filed with the State Vital Records Office and added to the DC death index database. This allows requesters to obtain certified copies of the death record by conducting a DC death certificate search online, by mail, by phone, or in person via an automated kiosk. Subsequently, the death record will be input into the United States death registry, which becomes part of the United States death records. Vital information such as this is useful when developing vital or public health statistics.

How to Find an Obituary for a Specific Person in the District of Columbia

Individuals can conduct a District of Columbia obituary search for a specific person by submitting a request to the District of Columbia Archives Office. Requests for DC obituary search can be emailed at archives@dc.gov or by telephone at (202) 671-1105. Alternatively, interested persons can contact the newspaper agencies in the city where the deceased person died or lived to perform a District of Columbia obituary search.

How to Conduct a Free Obituary Search in the District of Columbia

An individual can conduct a free obituary search online or in person at District of Columbia newspaper agencies. Alternatively, a record seeker can email the District of Columbia Archives at archives@dc.gov to request a free obituary search.

What is Considered a Death Notice in DC?

District of Columbia death notices provide basic information about a person who died in the state. It is a way for grieving family members to inform the public of a loved one's passing. In addition, death notices in the District of Columbia often include a brief biography of the deceased.

What is the Difference Between Death Notices and Obituaries?

The major difference between death notices and obituaries is the length of the notice. Both obituaries and death notices are public announcements of people's deaths posted in newspapers and other publications. However, a death notice is typically a shorter version of a death announcement placed in the newspapers by family members or friends. In addition, a death notice contains information like the deceased’s name, date of birth, death residential address, funeral or memorial service details, and charity donation information.

On the other hand, obituaries are a more detailed version of a death announcement published by a newspaper's staff (editors or reporters) as editorial content. They contain a deceased's biographical information, achievements, hobbies, lifestyle, career, and the names of surviving spouses and children. Newspapers are good places for record seekers to perform a free obituary search.