The paperwork · Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin, 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: $20.00
Mail requests to: WI Vital Records Office P.O. Box 309 Madison, WI 53701-0309
In Wisconsin, records were not required to be registered with the state until October 1907. However, a limited number of records on file for events that occurred prior to that date are on file at the state level. If multiple copies of the same record are ordered at the same time, additional copies are $3.00 each. Information on how to obtain certified copies, including application forms, is available at the Wisconsin Vital Records Services website. In Wisconsin, certified copies of vital records are only available to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Please refer to the website for more information, including photo ID requirements and ways to order records.
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 Wisconsin 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: $20.00 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 Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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