Search Minnesota Death Records
You can search Minnesota death records through the state or any county recorder office. The Minnesota Department of Health holds certified death certificates from 1908 forward. County recorders issue same-day copies when you visit in person. Noncertified death records are open to anyone, with no proof of relationship required. Certified copies carry legal weight and need a notarized request form. This page covers what is available, where to look, how to order, and what it costs to get death records in Minnesota.
Minnesota Death Records Overview
Where to Find Minnesota Death Records
Minnesota death records come from two main sources: the state office and county recorder offices. The Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, holds certified records from 1908 to the present. You can reach them by mail, fax, or through the VitalChek online ordering portal. MDH does not offer walk-in service. For in-person access and same-day copies, go to the county recorder in the county where the death took place.
As of early 2026, MDH is processing standard orders received through February and expedited orders through March. Processing times shift throughout the year, so check the MDH site before you order. The MDH Office of Vital Records mailing address is P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882. Their phone is 651-201-5970. You can also review current status and all available services on the MDH website.
Death records before 1908 exist only at the county level. Many older Minnesota death records also survive in microfilm collections held by the Minnesota Historical Society. For deaths that occurred outside Minnesota, contact the vital records office in the state where the death took place.
The MDH vital records page is the central resource for certified Minnesota death certificates.
The MDH page at health.state.mn.us covers all ordering methods, fee schedules, and current processing times for Minnesota death certificates.
How to Get a Minnesota Death Certificate
Four methods are available to order a Minnesota death certificate: mail, fax, in-person at a county office, or online through VitalChek. In-person is the fastest option. Mail and fax take longer but work if you cannot visit a county office. Online ordering through VitalChek is convenient but adds a service fee.
For a mail or fax request, complete the Death Certificate Application from MDH. You must sign the form in front of a notary public. The notary stamps the form to confirm your identity. For mail orders, send the notarized application and payment to MDH in St. Paul. For fax orders, fax the notarized application along with your credit card number. MDH accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Checks and money orders should be made out to the Minnesota Department of Health.
When you order, you will need:
- Full legal name of the deceased
- Date of death
- Date of birth or age at death
- City and county where the death occurred
- Parents' names (helpful but not required)
- Spouse name if on the record
If MDH cannot find the record, they send a Statement of No Record Found. Fees are not refunded. MDH deposits your payment when they receive the request, before they review whether the record exists. A small error in a name or date can cause delays, so double-check everything before you send.
Note: MDH does not offer walk-in service. For in-person, same-day death certificates in Minnesota, go to the county recorder in the county where the death occurred.
The MDH eligibility page explains what documentation each type of requester needs for a certified copy.
Visit health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.html for the full eligibility table and required documentation for certified Minnesota death records.
Who Can Get Certified Minnesota Death Records
Under Minn. Stat. 144.225, certified copies of Minnesota death records go to people with a direct family tie or a legal need. Noncertified copies are open to anyone, no questions asked. An informational copy does not carry the state seal and cannot be used for legal purposes, but it has all the same facts on it.
Eligible requesters for certified Minnesota death certificates include the deceased's child, spouse named on the record, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, legal guardian with a court order, personal representative of the estate with a sworn affidavit, a licensed Minnesota attorney, and government agencies acting within their authority. A person who can show a direct personal or property right need may also qualify. A subpoena alone is not enough. You need a full court order.
Stat. 144.225 also requires that certified Minnesota death certificates use standardized formats with anti-fraud security features to prevent forgery. Providing false information to obtain a death record is a crime under Minnesota law. Penalties can include fines, jail time, or both.
Under Minn. Stat. 13.10, private data about a person becomes publicly available data on decedents after 10 years from death and 30 years from when the data was created. If 90 years have passed since a person's birth or the data was created, death is presumed and the data is treated as public.
Minn. Stat. 144.225 is the main law for death record access in Minnesota. It sets out who qualifies for certified copies and what each eligible person must provide.
Death Record Fees in Minnesota
The fee for a Minnesota death certificate is $13 for the first certified copy. Each additional certified copy of the same record costs $6. Noncertified copies also run $13. These fees apply whether you order from MDH or from a county recorder. They are not refunded if the record cannot be found.
If you order online through VitalChek, you pay the state fee plus a VitalChek service charge. Standard VitalChek processing adds $7. Rush processing adds $17.50. Shipping fees vary by delivery method. Ordering multiple copies at once saves money. Three certified copies cost $25 total ($13 plus two at $6 each). Ordering three separately would be $39. Plan how many you need before you order.
County offices use the same fee structure as MDH. Some counties may charge a small credit card processing fee. Call the county recorder first to ask what payment methods they accept. For historical copies from the Minnesota Historical Society, the fee is $9 per noncertified copy.
Note: MDH deposits payment when it receives your request, before reviewing whether the record can be found. Fees are nonrefundable in all cases.
Online Death Records Search in Minnesota
Minnesota does not have a single free public database for complete death records. MDH offers a basic verification tool for deaths from 1997 to the present at health.state.mn.us. This tool lets you confirm a death occurred and check a date or name, but it does not give you a copy of the certificate. It is useful as a first step, especially when you are not sure which county handled the death.
For full copies ordered online, VitalChek is the only government-authorized service for Minnesota death certificates. You select Minnesota and the county, fill out the application, upload a notarized form, and pay with a credit card. Standard orders take three to five business days to process, not counting shipping. Rush processing cuts that to one or two business days.
Visit vitalchek.com to start an online order for a Minnesota death certificate. Rush and standard processing options are available with tracking.
Historical Minnesota Death Records
The Minnesota Historical Society holds the largest collection of historical death records in the state outside of government offices. Minnesota law required county-level death recording starting in 1870, well before the state office began collecting records in 1908. Coverage varies by county. Some counties have nearly complete runs going back to 1870. Others have significant gaps, especially in early years when compliance was sporadic. Counties formed after 1870 may have early records in the parent county's files.
MNHS microfilm holdings cover death records for many Minnesota counties, in some cases going back to 1870. Their online index covers death records from 1904 to 2001. For deaths after 2001, contact MDH directly. A noncertified copy from MNHS costs $9. The Gale Family Library at the Minnesota History Center, at 345 West Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul, provides public access. Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Call 651-259-3300 for research help.
MNHS also holds county-specific death record microfilm for Hennepin (1870-1909), Olmsted (1870-2000), Washington (1870-1994), Sibley (1870-2001), and many others. Check the MNHS research guide for what they hold for your specific county.
Note: For deaths before 1908, the county recorder or MNHS may be the only source. MDH only holds records from 1908 forward.
Death Records for Unusual or Investigated Deaths
Not all Minnesota deaths are certified by the attending physician. Under Minn. Stat. 390.23, only the county coroner or medical examiner may file or amend the cause of death in cases involving accidents, suicides, homicides, violent deaths, or deaths where the cause is unclear. The medical examiner's findings become part of the official death record.
Death certificates from medical examiner cases go through the same MDH and county system as all other Minnesota death records. If you need a death certificate for a case handled by a medical examiner, you request it the same way. Contact MDH or the county recorder where the death occurred. The MDH amendments page covers how to correct or update a death record if it contains an error.
Browse Minnesota Death Records by County
Minnesota has 87 counties. Each county recorder handles local death records and can issue certified copies for deaths in their county from 1997 forward. Pick a county below for local office details and resources.
View All 87 Minnesota Counties
Minnesota Death Records by City
City residents get death records through their county recorder. Select a city below to find which county handles records and where to go to get a copy.