The paperwork · Rhode Island
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in Rhode Island, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy:
Mail requests to: RI Department of Health Center for Vital Records Simpson Hall 6 Harrington Rd Cranston, RI 02920
State office stores birth and marriage/civil union records for 100 years and stores death records for 50 years. In general, copies can be obtained at the time of the occurrence. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $18.00 each. Information for city/town addresses are available via the Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Vital Records websiteExternal. For earlier records, write to the city/town clerk where the event occurred or to the Rhode Island State Archives, 33 Broad Street, Providence, RI 02903. Personal check or money order should be made payable to General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island. To verify current fees after office hours, the telephone number is (401) 222-2811. This will be a recorded message. To verify current fees and general information during office hours, please call the Health Hot Line at (401) 222-5960. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Rhode Island Department of Health websiteExternal. All requests must be accompanied by a photocopy of the applicant’s valid government-issued picture identification, e.g., driver’s license. In lieu of a valid government-issued picture identification, two pieces of mail are accepted showing the correct name and address of the individual requesting the record.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the Rhode Island help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by Rhode Island. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official Rhode Island vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
Verified against official sources
Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
Last verified via official source.
See something outdated? Tell us and we will fix it.
Every step for the first two weeks, personalized to where you are, with the exact numbers to call. Three short emails, then nothing else, ever. No signup, no card, and we will never call you.
More help nearby