Get a certified Arkansas Death Certificate

An officially certified death certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health and Social Services (ADH) will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue, but it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at the time of death. Official death certificates from Arkansas typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar's signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The ADH issues these certificates to state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State for records initially filed with the Arkansas Department of Public Health, such as death certificates.

You need an apostille when you file documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of vital records for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for death certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Arkansas Secretary of State's Office, you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of your death certificate, with the original signature and seal of the current Arkansas State Registrar;
2. A completed Authentication and Apostille Form (specify the country you will submit the document to); and
3. A payment of $10.00 per document – checks and money orders should be made payable to the "Arkansas Secretary of State," or you can provide your credit card information.

Submit your request to the Arkansas Secretary of State Authentication and Apostille Division at the following addresses:

In-person/by mail (standard or express courier):

Simultaneous requests by mail:

When requesting your records from the Arkansas Department of Health by mail, you can obtain an apostille simultaneously; however, you cannot obtain an apostille when requesting in person at a local office. The application form is the same, but the fee is $10.00 for the death certificate plus $10.00 for the apostille.

Next to "Reason for Request," you must write that you need an apostille and specify the country to which you submit the death record.

You can obtain a certified copy of an Arkansas death certificate through the Arkansas Department of Health. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Vital Records office in Little Rock. You will need to provide the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, and your relationship to the deceased. You can also use authorized services like VitalRecordsOnline.com to file your request online.

A certified copy of an Arkansas death certificate costs $10 through the Arkansas Department of Health. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $8. When using an authorized online service like VitalRecordsOnline.com, fees start at $29.00 plus applicable state fees.

Yes, you can order an Arkansas death certificate online through the Arkansas Department of Health or through authorized services like VitalRecordsOnline.com. Online ordering allows you to submit your request without visiting a government office. You will need to provide details about the deceased and valid identification proving your eligibility. Processing times typically range from 7 to 14 business days.

Arkansas death certificates are restricted records and are not available to the general public. Only eligible individuals can request a certified copy, including the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child, a sibling, the legal representative of the estate, a funeral director, or anyone with a direct and tangible interest in the record such as an insurance beneficiary. You must provide valid photo identification and proof of your relationship when requesting a copy.