Death Registration
Office of Vital Records
Death Registration for Funeral Directors
Generally, deaths in Minnesota are registered with the state by a mortician, funeral director, or funeral staff. The person in charge of disposition of the body must:
- Register the death in Minnesota Registration and Certification (MR&C) within five days of the death and before final disposition
- Determine which medical certifier will provide the cause and manner of death information and enter the certifier into MR&C
Order death certificates
Funeral home staff may request death certificates for eligible people within 180 days of the date of death. An eligible person is:
- A child, spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the decedent
- A legal custodian, guardian, conservator, or health care agent for the deceased
- A representative, successor, or trustee administering the decedent’s estate
You can Request death certificates (PDF) in MR&C.
After 180 days, the decedent’s family can order death certificates from a county office or the Minnesota Department of Health (Death Certificate Request (PDF)). Funeral home staff can also:
- Apply for certificates on behalf of an eligible family member, if the family member authorizes the mortician with a signed, written statement. The statement must include the decedent’s name and date of death, and the family member’s relationship to the decedent. Submit the statement to an issuance office with the paper application.
- Order certificates as a successor of the decedent under Minnesota Statutes, section 524.1-201 (52) and with a claim under Minnesota Statutes, section256B.15.
Assign medical certifiers
Morticians and funeral home staff are responsible for assigning a medical certifier who can provide cause and manner of death information for the death record. Once you assign a medical certifier in MR&C, the system will send them an email prompting them to enter the information and certify the death record.
If the medical certifier is a not an MR&C user yet, you’ll have to reach out to them another way and direct them to complete the Medical Certifier and Designated Staff User Agreement (PDF). If you have difficulty connecting with a medical certifier, contact the Office of Vital Records for assistance.
When the cause of death is not natural, a medical examiner or coroner (ME/C) with jurisdiction in the county where the death occurred must provide the cause of death. Find ME/Cs by county with the Coroner/M.E. Lookup. An ME/C also authorizes final disposition for any death when the body will be cremated.
See the Provide Cause of Death pages for more information.
Change a death record
Funeral home staff may correct fact of death information on records that they registered if:
- No death certificate has been issued
- The correction is within a year of the death date
Medical certifiers may correct cause of death information on a death record at any time at no cost, if they are named as medical certifier on the record. A medical examiner or coroner for the county where the death occurred may also assume the role of medical certifier on a death record. Learn more on the Provide Cause of Death pages.
Amendments
Once a death certificate is issued, any changes to the fact of death information on a death record require an amendment.
- Within one year of death date: Funeral homes may use the Funeral Home Request to Amend a Death Record (PDF) to make a change.
- More than a year after death: Requesters must use the Death Record Amendment Packet (PDF) and supply supporting documentation.
Fetal deaths
A fetal death is the death of a fetus before or during delivery. Minnesota law requires that fetal deaths at 20 or more weeks of gestation be registered. Birth registrars or medical examiners/coroners register fetal deaths; funeral staff do not have access to these MR&C records. Funeral staff may contact OVR for help to verify a fetal death and confirm a live birth.
Funeral establishments involved in the disposition of fetal remains must use the Fetal Death Disposition Permit (PDF) form.
Documentation of death worksheet
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