How to Get a Death Certificate in Wisconsin
After a death in Wisconsin, certified copies of the death certificate are the single most-requested document — banks, insurers, and government agencies almost always ask for an original. Here is exactly where to order them, what they cost, and how many you'll need.
Wisconsin — quick facts
- Issuing office
- Wisconsin Vital Records
- Cost per certified copy
- $20
- Phone
- 608-266-1373
How many certified copies to order in Wisconsin
How many copies do you need?
Count the accounts and policies you know about. The number below updates as you go, and nothing is saved to an account.
Banks and credit unions
Each bank wants an original certified copy before it will release or retitle an account.
Credit cards
Most issuers close a card on a photocopy, or on a phone call. Counted because the balance still has to be settled with the estate.
Brokerage and investment accounts
Transfer agents almost always require an original, and often a medallion signature guarantee with it.
Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA)
The plan administrator needs an original to pay a beneficiary or roll the account over.
Life insurance policies
Every claim is filed with its own original certified copy. Insurers do not return them.
Pensions and annuities
Needed to stop payments and to start any survivor benefit.
Order 10 certified copies — about $200 at $20 each
from the Wisconsin Vital Records. That is the starting recommendation for 10 — count your accounts above and it will follow them, up to 20.
Order 10 copies from the Wisconsin Vital Records →Where each copy goes
- Probate court filingFiled with the petition. The court keeps it.1
- Real property (county recorder)One per property, to clear title or record the transfer.2
- Vehicle titles (DMV)One per vehicle being retitled.1
- Employer — final pay and benefitsUsually accepts a photocopy, but a small employer's insurer may not.1
- Final tax returns and the estate's tax IDKept with the estate's records; the IRS does not normally ask for one.1
- Copies to keepInstitutions do not return originals. A couple of spares save a second order and a second wait.2
- Social Security AdministrationNo copy needed in most cases — the funeral director reports the death directly. Confirm they did.—
This is a recommendation, not a rule — every institution sets its own requirements, and fees change. Confirm the current fee with the Wisconsin Vital Records before ordering.
Estate Assist turns this into a plan: who to notify, in what order, with a letter drafted for each one.
Build my plan →Three ways to order certified copies in Wisconsin
- 1
Ask the funeral home
The fastest option. Most funeral homes will order certified copies on your behalf. Work out your number with the tally on this page, then ask them for that many.
- 2
Contact the Wisconsin Vital Records
Order directly from Wisconsin's vital records office by phone at 608-266-1373 or through its website. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of relationship to the decedent.
- 3
Order online via VitalChek
An authorized service accepted by most states. Convenient but may take 2–4 weeks and adds a processing fee on top of the state fee.
Before you order
- Certified, not photocopied. A certified copy has a raised seal, watermark, or stamp. Most institutions reject plain photocopies or printouts.
- Order from the state of death. If the person died in a different state than where they lived, request copies from the state where the death occurred.
- Get more than you think. Every bank, insurer, and agency wants its own original. Extra copies are cheap compared to the delay of re-ordering.
Know exactly who needs a copy
Estate Assist reads the Wisconsin estate's documents, builds a personalized checklist of every institution to notify, and drafts the letters for you — so you know precisely how many certified copies to order and where each one goes.
Start your free action plan →Wisconsin death certificate FAQ
How much does a death certificate cost in Wisconsin?
A certified copy costs approximately $20 through the Wisconsin Vital Records. Additional copies are often the same price, and ordering several at once saves return trips.
How many certified copies should I order in Wisconsin?
Order at least 10, and one more for each bank, card, brokerage, retirement account, insurance policy and pension — up to 20. Institutions keep the original certified copy they are given and do not return it, so a second order means a second wait. The tally on this page works the number out for you.
Where are death certificates filed in Wisconsin?
Death certificates are issued by the vital records office in the state where the person died — not necessarily where they lived. In Wisconsin that office is the Wisconsin Vital Records.
What is the fastest way to get certified copies?
The funeral home is usually fastest — most will order certified copies on your behalf at the time of death. You can also order in person from the county or state vital records office, or online through VitalChek (which adds a processing fee and can take 2–4 weeks).
Other states
Content checked against official state sources on July 16, 2026. Fees and office details change; confirm current requirements on the official Wisconsin vital records website before ordering. Estate Assist provides general information, not legal advice.