
When someone dies in Pennsylvania
Two things matter first in Pennsylvania: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick the county below for exact contacts.
Death certificates in Pennsylvania
Order certified copies from the Pennsylvania vital records office. The CDC keeps the official directory of every state office: find the Pennsylvania vital records office. The funeral home can also order copies for you. Most families need about 10.
Planning ahead instead? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Pennsylvania's exact rules and official forms.
Pennsylvania power of attorney rulesPennsylvania counties (67)
Adams CountyAllegheny CountyArmstrong CountyBeaver CountyBedford CountyBerks CountyBlair CountyBradford CountyBucks CountyButler CountyCambria CountyCameron CountyCarbon CountyCentre CountyChester CountyClarion CountyClearfield CountyClinton CountyColumbia CountyCrawford CountyCumberland CountyDauphin CountyDelaware CountyElk CountyErie CountyFayette CountyForest CountyFranklin CountyFulton CountyGreene CountyHuntingdon CountyIndiana CountyJefferson CountyJuniata CountyLackawanna CountyLancaster CountyLawrence CountyLebanon CountyLehigh CountyLuzerne CountyLycoming CountyMcKean CountyMercer CountyMifflin CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMontour CountyNorthampton CountyNorthumberland CountyPerry CountyPhiladelphia CountyPike CountyPotter CountySchuylkill CountySnyder CountySomerset CountySullivan CountySusquehanna CountyTioga CountyUnion CountyVenango CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWestmoreland CountyWyoming CountyYork County