Alaska - How to obtain a copy of Death Certificate

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Procedure

In Person

You may go to any of The Bureau of Vital Statistics offices located in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks

By Mail

1. Print and complete the request form: Alaska Death Certificate Request Form and mail it or fax it to office The Bureau of Vital Statistics
2. Expedited (Rush) requests may only be submitted by fax. Please fax your rush request to 907.465.3618.
3. If faxing, call the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics to confirm receipt at 907.465.3391 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Alaska time.

Apply Online

1. Alaska currently does not accept online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc.
2. You may order certificates through VitalChek using a credit card. Note that there are additional fees for using this service VitalChek
   

VitalChek is an official service, authorized by Alaska Vital Records, to securely order certified Alaska vital records, like Death certificates. Other online services may not be authorized by Alaska Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas #1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as Alaska Death certificates, simple, fast and secure:

• Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
• Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
• Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
  

VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering Alaska Death certificates for yourself or your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.

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Required Documents

• A driver's license or official identification card(Issued by another state in the U.S., jurisdiction or territory, unexpired, or expired for not more than one year)
• An unexpired U.S. or foreign passport.
• U.S. military identification, military dependent identification or veteran's identification.
• If you are currently living in Alaska, a BIA or tribal identification card will also be accepted.
  

(If you are unable to provide any of the above-mentioned forms of identification, please contact the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics at 907.465.3391 to speak with a customer service representative.)

Office Locations & Contacts

Address

Bureau of Vital Statistics

3601 C Street, Suite 128

Anchorage, Alaska 99503

Phone - (907) 269-0991

Fax - (907) 269-0994

Office Locations

http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/contacts/default.aspx

Eligibility

Access to death records filed in the Bureau of Vital Statistics office is restricted for 50 years after the date of the event to family members, their legal representatives, and persons who can prove they are legally entitled. When ordering a death record, you must state your relationship to the person named on the certificate or your reason for needing the record.

Fees

In Person/Mail

Search fee: $30.00

The first copy: $30.00

Additional copies: $25.00 each

By Fax

Fax: $11.00

By Online (through VitalChek)

First Copy: $30.00

Additional Copies: $25.00 each

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

• By Mail: 2 -3 weeks after receipt by the Bureau.
• Expedited (Rush): 3 working days after receipt (with Credit Card payment)
• Fax: 5 working days upon receipt

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

• Death Certificates are available for events that occurred within the State of Alaska from 1913 to present
• A spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a deceased person may obtain a certified copy of the death certificate. Proof of your relation to the decedent is required when submitting your application. Siblings will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate showing parental relationship to the decedent.
• A death certificate can also be furnished to a legal representative or to a person who provides documentation showing the death certificate is needed for the determination of property rights. If you are a legal representative, include a letter stating whom you represent and how you are related to the person named on the record.
• Use the full first, middle, and last names as they appear on the certificate when filling out the request form.
• We can only process requests for deaths that occurred in Alaska. For deaths that occurred outside of Alaska, requests must be sent directly to the appropriate state.
• ll requests must include a copy of government-issued picture id of the person requesting the death certificate. Enlarge the copy and lighten it as much as possible to ensure it is clear and readable when sent to the Bureau, especially if you are faxing your request. Requests with dark or unclear copies of ids will be returned unprocessed.

Required Information

• First, middle, and last names as they appear on the certificate
• A copy of picture ID of the applicant
• A signature of the applicant under the copied ID

Need for the Document

If you want to obtain Death certificate or if you would like to have an additional copy of Death certificate you can obtain one with following the procedure given below.

Information which might help

• The fastest way to obtain a certificate is to go to a Vital Statistics office located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. If filled out correctly, many requests can be processed while you wait. However, some requests may take up to 48 hours to complete. Please note that not all certificates are available at the Anchorage or Fairbanks offices
• Vital records requests contain confidential information. Therefore, we highly recommend you mail or fax your request. E-mail, although convenient, is not secure and subject to fraud.
• Remember to sign your request and enclose the correct fees as well as a copy of picture ID.
• Expedited (Rush) requests may only be submitted by fax. Please fax your rush request to 907.465.3618.
• If faxing, call the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics to confirm receipt at 907.465.3391 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Alaska time.
• Search fee for records. Once an order is received and processed, the first $25 record search fee is not refundable. If you order multiple copies and no record is found, the fees for the extra copies will be refunded
• All NSF checks will be sent to a collection agency. There will be a $30.00 charge for returned checks.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Certified copies of a death record that can typically be used to obtain death benefits, claim insurance proceeds, notify social security and other legal purposes.

External Links

VitalChek:
http://www.vitalchek.com

Death Certificates:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/death/default.aspx

Others

More information which might help people.