YB
Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure.
Starting a death certificate search for a deceased relative — whether it was a recent death or it occurred long, long ago — may strike you as a complicated process. However, like most states, getting a death certificate in Massachusetts is fairly easy and straightforward.
In fact, death certificates are public record in Massachusetts, meaning they can be requested by anyone. Some states place a limit on the types of vital records you can access. That being said, we’ll still outline the information and fees you need to get a death certificate.
In this post, we’ll discuss how to get a death certificate in Massachusetts online, by mail, or in person. Depending on when you need the death certificate and possible copies, one of these options may prove much better for you.
You have a few options when ordering a death certificate in Massachusetts online. You can also check out this post for a general guide on how to get a death certificate .
Using VitalChek will successfully get you a death certificate from Massachusetts. This website offers next-day services as well as a generally quick turnaround of 7-10 days. After your request is received, however, it must then travel to the local office in which the death occurred for processing.
You can request a death certificate through another resource called Archives.com . Archives.com works in a similar manner as VitalChek, and it is a trusted source of vital records. Of course, processing times and the time in which you receive the death certificate may vary.
You also need to take into account that the death certificate may need to be verified by the local office in which the death occurred. However, you can also pay for an expedited service for a fee.
Death verifications are another type of official paperwork filed with death certificates. The death verification does what it sounds like it does — verifies the death as legitimate. These forms are generally more straightforward and do not appear like actual certificates.
Death verifications are often all that is required by credit card companies, cell phone providers, and related entities to verify the death of your loved one. You will need this information to cancel these types of services after your loved one has passed away. You can read more about writing a notification of death letter to credit bureaus on Cake.
Even if death verifications sound like the type of form you’ll need to take care of your loved one’s arrangements, it is still recommended to request 5 to 10 copies of your loved one’s death certificate. Another reason for needing a death certificate is to notify the IRS of a death . The process for requesting verified copies for more official entities is discussed in the FAQ section of this post.
If you prefer to complete your death certificate order in Massachusetts by mail or in person, that can be just as streamlined of a process. However, be advised that processing times vary depending on the process you choose.
You can request death certificates in Massachusetts by mail . To do so, however, you will have to complete a vital records mail order form. You will also have to send a check or a money order along with your form. This office is not accepting cash at this time. Make your check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Address your letter to:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon St.
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
According to the site, orders will be processed within 30 business days of receipt. However, if you need your death certificate sooner, within 7-10 business days, you can address your envelope to the attention of Expedited Mail Service. Be advised that you will have to pay an additional fee for expedited services.
You can request records in-person at the registry office . Registry office hours are listed on the website. Of course, staff availability may be subject to change. If you plan to visit the registry office and have a more complicated inquiry or need help with actual research, it may benefit you to call ahead.
Death verifications are another type of official paperwork filed with death certificates. There are different reasons for needing death certificates or death verifications. The death verification does what it sounds like it does — verifies the death as legitimate. These forms are generally more straightforward and do not appear like actual certificates.
Even if the process of requesting a death certificate in Massachusetts online, by mail, or in person seems streamlined, it’s understandable to still have questions. Here are some frequently asked questions from official vital records sites for Massachusetts.
In some states, vital records, such as death certificates, are public record. In a general sense, public record means that something has been filed by a public agency. More specifically, however, public record means that the public can search and access this information and it is not confidential.
How long it will take to receive a death certificate from Massachusetts depends on which method you choose. Depending on your request, how you requested it, and other factors, processing times can vary.
Again, how much it will cost to get a death certificate or an official copy in Massachusetts will vary whether you choose an online request, by mail, or in person.
The most hassle-free way to get copies (legitimate copies) of death certificates in Massachusetts is by purchasing them at the same time as the initial request. It will also be the most cost-effective.
If you’re requesting a death certificate long after a loved one has passed away or a few days after, it may not feel less complex in either situation. However, even if you’re pressed for time, reading through the processes carefully and speaking to the proper professionals will ensure this to-do will get checked off without a hitch.
For more resources on navigating end-of-life planning, including a checklist , be sure to visit the rest of Cake. Or, you can even set up a digital end-of-life planning profile on Cake’s free platform for yourself or a loved one.
If you're a Massachusetts resident and ready to start preparing your own end-of-life planning documents, Cake has Advance Care Planning forms you can download. To help ease your planning, we have all the documents you need in one place.
