Get certified Wisconsin Death Certificate

Individuals who die on an overseas military base are not classified as having died in Wisconsin. As a result, there is no death certificate recorded with the state of Wisconsin for these individuals. If they passed away on a U.S. military base overseas and their parents were U.S. citizens at the time of their death, their death should be recorded with the U.S. Department of State. You must contact the U.S. Department of State to request a copy of your Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA or form DS-5542).

Types of Wisconsin Death Certificates

Wisconsin issues two types of certified death certificates, depending on the information you need.

A Fact of Death certificate includes basic demographic details and does not contain the cause of death, manner of death, or burial information. This version is typically sufficient for most financial and legal matters.

An Extended Fact of Death certificate includes additional details such as cause of death, manner of death, and final disposition information. This version is often required for insurance claims or more detailed legal purposes.

For deaths that occurred less than 50 years ago, extended certificates are only available to individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the record.

An officially certified death certificate from the Wisconsin DHS will have unique features to show its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate can vary depending on the year of issue, and it will contain essential details to confirm a person's identity and citizenship at death. A long-form (official) death certificate is used for legal purposes and differs from a short-form (informational) copy. The WDHS has specific county guidelines, which may include distinct colors and layouts. Overall, official death certificates commonly feature the state seal, the individual's name, and the registrar’s signature and are printed on secure paper.

• Full Name of the Person: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred.
• Cause of Death
• Medical Information Related to the Death
• Demographic Information: Age, occupation, marital status.
• Funeral and Burial Details: Method, date, place of disposition, funeral director’s information.

Wisconsin death certificates are essential legal documents that confirm a person's death. They are crucial for managing financial affairs, processing benefit claims, verifying information for institutions, settling estates, and obtaining government benefits.

Death certificates are often helpful or required for:

Settling Estates

Claiming Pension and Retirement Benefits

Marriage and Divorce Finalization

Genealogy and Historical Research

Claiming Life Insurance

Managing Accounts at Financial Institutions

Making Funeral and Burial Arrangements

Tax Filings

Claiming Social Security and Government Benefits

Handling Property Mortgage and Real Estate Matters

Settling the estate

The process for amending a death certificate depends on the type of changes needed. By law, the original record cannot be changed. Therefore, an addendum is created to document the corrections.

This addendum, also called an affidavit, is issued alongside the original certificate and lists the corrected information, ensuring the original details remain unaltered. If the death occurred more than one year ago, a court order is needed to make corrections.

Personal and Demographic Information Corrections or Changes:

Personal and location information changes, including misspelled names, marital status, occupation, and age, can be corrected through the amendment process by:

• Attorney Representing the Decedent or Estate
• Child
• Court Appointed Individual for the Decedent
• Funeral Home
• Informant
• Parent
• Spouse

Obtain the Necessary Form

To request an amendment or correction, you must send a certified copy of the record with a statement stating what needs to be corrected.

A court order may require legal name changes or other significant amendments.

Submit the Application

You can apply to amend or correct a death certificate by:

Mail: Send the completed form and supporting documents to:

STATE VITAL RECORDS OFFICE

PO BOX 309

MADISON, WI 53701-0309

Pay the Amendment Fee:

If you don’t have a certified copy of the death record, the cost is $20.00.

Legal Requirements

Due to the legal issues involved with amending some items, questions regarding amendments to a death certificate should be referred to 608-266-1373.

Apostille

You can request an apostille through the Wisconsin Secretary of State or use VRO's Express Apostille Service for online orders. Apostilles are issued exclusively by the Wisconsin Secretary of State and are generally needed when submitting a death certificate to a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

To manually obtain an apostille for a Wisconsin death certificate, complete the following steps:

1. Complete the Authentication & Apostille Order Form: Obtain and complete the appropriate Apostille Request Form from the Wisconsin Secretary of State's office.
2. Prepare the Required Documents: Include a certified copy of your death certificate and the completed Authentication & Apostille Form.
3. Pay the Applicable Fees: Ensure you include the payment with a check or money for the apostille service fee ($10.00 standard; $35.00 expedited), made out to the Wisconsin Secretary of State.
4. Please include a prepaid self-addressed envelope or courier label for the return delivery unless you opt to pick your certificate up in person at the State Capitol Building.
5. Submit Your Request: You can submit your request by mail or in person. If submitting by mail, send the form, documents, and payment to the following address:

Mail via USPS:

Mail via courier:

In Person Submissions: