Sunset needs one copy of the death certificate, uploaded as a photo or PDF. That's it. You don't need to mail us anything.

You may still need certified copies for things outside Sunset, though, and this guide covers how to order them, what they cost in your state, and how many are actually worth buying.

A single digital copy. Photograph the certificate with your phone or upload a scan or PDF.

When we contact financial institutions on your behalf, we provide a verified digital copy. We work with over 2,500 partner institutions, and they accept a digital certificate from us rather than requiring a physical certified original. That's a large part of why families using Sunset need far fewer certified copies than the traditional advice suggests.

Your physical certified copies stay with you.

The honest answer is that it depends on what you're doing besides using Sunset, because Sunset itself doesn't consume any.

You may need certified copies for:

For most families, that adds up to a small number. Two or three certified copies covers the great majority of situations, and plenty of people need fewer.

The traditional advice to order 10 or 20 dates from a time when every bank demanded an original and kept it. That's rarely how it works now. Ordering 3 instead of 15 typically leaves a couple of hundred dollars in the estate, and you can always order more later if something unexpected comes up.

Order on the higher end if the estate holds real property in several states, if you're working with multiple courts at once, or if you're not using an estate settlement service at all.

VitalChek is the authorized online processor for government vital records agencies across the country. It submits your request electronically to the issuing agency rather than mailing a paper application, which usually means faster processing. Certificates ship to you directly from the government agency.

It's not the only route. Funeral homes commonly order on a family's behalf, and you can apply directly to the state or county office, which is cheaper but slower. VitalChek trades a processing fee for convenience and speed.

About your loved one: full legal name including any maiden name, date of death, place of death (city, county, state), date of birth, and Social Security number if known.

About you: a valid government-issued photo ID, your relationship to them, and in some states proof of that relationship.

Payment: a credit or debit card.

Fees change and processing times vary with agency workload. Treat these as a guide and confirm the current figure on VitalChek or with your state's vital records office before ordering.

$15 first copy, $6 each additional. Expedited $15. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$30 first copy, $25 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$20 per copy. Processing 1 to 2 weeks.

$12 first copy, $10 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$21 to $28 per copy depending on county. Processing 2 to 4 weeks, longer at the state level. Ordering from the county where the death occurred is usually faster.

$20 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks, or 5 to 7 business days with rush.

$20 per copy. Processing 3 to 4 weeks.

$25 first copy, $10 each additional. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$18 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$10 per copy, rush $10. Processing 2 to 3 weeks. Two versions exist, one with cause of death (restricted access) and one without.

$25 first copy, $5 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks. Georgia issues certificates on plain paper with no raised seal, which is normal and valid.

$12.50 per copy. Processing 3 to 4 weeks.

$16 per copy, rush $10. Processing 3 to 5 weeks, or 2 to 3 weeks with rush.

$19 first copy, $4 each additional. Processing 4 to 6 weeks, or 5 to 10 business days with rush.

$10 first copy, $4 each additional. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$20 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$15 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$10 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$15 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$15 first copy, $6 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$24 per copy. Processing 3 to 4 weeks.

$20 to $32 per copy depending on municipality. Processing 3 to 5 weeks.

$26 first copy, $12 each additional. Processing 3 to 4 weeks.

$13 first copy, $6 each additional. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$15 first copy, $5 each additional. Processing 4 to 8 weeks.

$15 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$15 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$16 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$25 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$15 first copy, $10 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$25 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$10 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$30 per copy, priority handling $15 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$15 per copy, express delivery $21 additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks, longer for older records.

$24 first copy, $15 each additional. State-level processing can run 10 to 15 weeks or more. County Register of Deeds offices are often much faster.

$10 per copy. Processing 1 to 2 weeks.

$21.50 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$20 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$25 per copy including additional copies. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$20 per copy plus a $10 online processing fee. Processing 3 to 4 weeks.

$22 first copy, $17 each additional. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$12 first copy, $3 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$15 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$15 first copy, $5 each additional. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$20 first copy, $3 each additional, rush $25. Processing 5 to 6 weeks, or 3 to 5 weeks with rush.

$22 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$12 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$12 per copy. Processing 2 to 5 days with VitalChek priority.

$25 per copy including additional copies. Processing 4 to 5 business days with VitalChek.

$12 per copy. Processing 2 to 4 weeks.

$20 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

$13 per copy. Processing 2 to 3 weeks.

Go to vitalchek.com, click My Order, and enter the order number and PIN from your confirmation email. If you chose UPS shipping you'll also get tracking once the agency ships.

Check that the death occurred in that state and county, look for spelling variations of the name, and confirm the date. Allow two to three weeks after a death for the record to be filed in the first place.

You'll be prompted to upload documentation. Make sure everything is clearly legible. VitalChek's customer service line is 1-800-255-2414.

High volume, incomplete applications, extra verification, and agency staffing all cause delays. If you're well past the expected window, contact VitalChek directly.

Generally immediate family, legal representatives, funeral directors, and others with a direct legal or financial interest. Requirements vary by state.

Yes, subject to what the state has on file. Very old records sometimes carry additional research fees.

An authorized or certified copy is the official legal document. An informational copy is stamped "not valid for legal purposes" and is only useful for genealogy. Don't buy the cheaper one by mistake.

Yes. The certificate comes from the government agency itself. VitalChek only handles the ordering.

No. Agency and processing fees are non-refundable once processed, which is the main reason not to over-order.

If you're unsure how many copies to order for your situation, ask us before you buy. Chat with us in the app, call (385) 707-0082, or email [email protected].

For questions about an order already placed, VitalChek's customer service is 1-800-255-2414.