There are a number of reasons you may wish to learn how to get a death certificate. For example, it’s often necessary to provide a copy of someone’s death certificate when carrying out your various executor duties, such as notifying the IRS of a death.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Who Can Request a Death Certificate in Idaho?
- Steps for Ordering a Death Certificate in Idaho Online
- Steps for Ordering a Death Certificate in Idaho Through the Mail
- Frequently Asked Questions: Idaho Death Certificates
The proper way to obtain a copy of someone’s death certificate can vary from one state to another. Perhaps you’re trying to obtain a copy of someone’s death certificate in Idaho.
Keep reading if this is the case. This guide will explain how you may secure a copy of someone’s death certificate in the state of Idaho, helping you more easily complete the tasks that your executor duties may involve.
Who Can Request a Death Certificate in Idaho?
Like most states, Idaho places some restrictions on who can obtain a copy of a death certificate. Those who may be eligible to request a copy of someone’s death certificate in Idaho include:
- Immediate family members of the deceased
- Legal representatives of the deceased or their immediate family members
- Anyone who can indicate via documentation that they need a copy of a death certificate to confirm their property rights
According to the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, someone must have a “direct and tangible interest” in certain types of records and certificates to obtain copies of them. To improve your chances of easily securing a copy of someone’s death certificate, you should gather documentation that proves you had a relationship with the deceased that warrants access to such records.
An attorney can help you with this process if you don’t know whether the documentation you’ve collected is sufficient.
Steps for Ordering a Death Certificate in Idaho Online
There are two ways to order a death certificate in Idaho. You can order one via traditional mail, or you can order a copy of someone’s death certificate online. This guide will explain both processes.
First, here are the steps for ordering a death certificate in Idaho online.
Step 1: Head to VitalChek
VitalChek is a company several states and agencies partner with. It allows users to request a number of documents over the internet.
Idaho’s Department of Health & Welfare works with VitalChek to help citizens order copies of death certificates and other such documents online. If you want to conveniently order a copy of a death certificate in Idaho, start at VitalChek’s homepage.
Step 2: Choose your document, state, & city
VitalChek allows users to order copies of various types of documents. On the homepage, you will be given the option to choose which type you’re requesting.
After choosing to order a death certificate, the site will direct you to a page featuring a map of the United States. Here, you can choose to order a death certificate from Idaho. The next page will ask you to choose which city or town you want to order a death certificate from.
Step 3: Specify the date of death
To help you track down the death certificate you’re looking for, VitalChek asks you to specify the date the deceased passed away. In instances when a user may not be sure precisely when someone died, they can search for someone’s obituary online. This is often an effective way to accurately determine when someone passed.
Step 4: Choose your reason for requesting a death certificate
You will need to select a reason for requesting a death certificate from a list of options next. Reasons VitalChek accepts include:
- Apostille/authentication
- Genealogy
- Government assistance/benefits
- Inheritance/estate settlement
- Insurance/pension/retirement
- Legal purposes
- Personal records/use
- Social Security card/benefits
Step 5: Order the death certificate
You may now choose the format in which you would like to receive a copy of a death certificate, as well as how quickly you want VitalChek to ship the copy to you. You will need to provide your name, the name of the individual whose death certificate you are requesting a copy of, information about your relationship to the deceased, and documentation showing you have a valid reason to obtain a copy of their death certificate.
VitalChek’s team will evaluate your request and let you know whether they have accepted it.
Steps for Ordering a Death Certificate in Idaho Through the Mail
If you would rather order a death certificate through the mail, here are the steps you’ll need to follow.
Step 1: Complete the certificate request form & copy your ID
You must first complete this form to request a copy of a death certificate in Idaho through the mail. Additionally, you will need to make a photocopy of a valid ID. Approved forms of identification include the following:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- Concealed weapons permit
- State identification card
- Tribal identification card
- Prison ID card
If you can’t provide a photocopy of any of these forms of ID, you can instead show your identity by providing two copies of any of these:
- Social security card (with signature)
- State ID card (must have a picture or signature)
- Auto registration with signature
- Traffic ticket with signature
- Court record with signature
- College or school ID with picture
- Matricula card with signature
- Insurance record
- Auto insurance documentation
- Driver permit
- Paystub
- Hunting/fishing license
- Passport card
At least one of the forms of ID from the above list must have a signature on it.
Completing the form to request a copy of someone’s death certificate in Idaho may be a simple process depending on how much you know about the deceased and how prepared you are to show that you have good reason to obtain a copy of their death certificate.
Although the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics clearly strives to ensure that copies of death certificates are only available to those who have genuine reasons for seeing them, you do not need to provide a substantial amount of details and information when completing the form. For the most part, it only asks for basic identifying information.
Along with these documents, you will also need to send a check or money order made out to Vital Records for the certificate fee.
Step 2: Mail your documentation
Once you have completed the form, made a photocopy of an acceptable ID, and written out a check or money order, you can mail everything to:
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Again, this doesn’t guarantee you will receive a copy of a death certificate. Those in charge of evaluating requests for death certificates will determine whether they should provide you with one. That said, if you have included the required documentation and filled out the form honestly, it’s likely they will grant your request.
An important note on expedited copies: While you can pay extra to receive a copy of someone’s death certificate early in Idaho, you should be aware that you do not have the option of expediting an order once you have placed it. Remember this when ordering a death certificate or similar record from the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
If there’s a good chance you will need a copy of a record fast (perhaps for legal reasons), you may want to pay the extra fee for a rush order. Processing requests for death certificates can take time. In some instances, it’s important to know a request has been prioritized.
Frequently Asked Questions: Idaho Death Certificates
Hopefully, this guide has made your death certificate search much easier than it might otherwise be. However, you might still have some questions about obtaining a death certificate in Idaho. This FAQ may provide the information you need to know:
How much does a death certificate cost in Idaho?
The cost of a death certificate in Idaho can vary depending on your method of obtaining it. For example, if you were to request a copy of a death certificate online, the cost would typically be $10.50. If you requested a certified copy of a death certificate via traditional mail, the cost is $16.00.
Additionally, if you want to expedite an order, you will need to pay an additional $19.00.
How long does it take to get a death certificate in Idaho?
The length of time it takes to receive a copy of a death certificate in Idaho also depends on your method of requesting one. Additionally, various factors can influence how long you may need to wait to receive a copy of a death certificate.
For example, if you ordered a death certificate in Idaho through traditional mail, you might have to wait two to four weeks to receive a copy. However, if you’re willing to pay extra, you can expedite your order and receive a copy of a death certificate in one to two weeks.
The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare will expedite orders when those requesting death certificates need them for legal actions or similar matters. Be aware, requesting an expedited order will cost you more than you would spend on a normal order.
According to VitalChek, the service through which you may order a copy of a death certificate in Idaho online, the length of time it will take to receive your copy is difficult to determine. This is because the company first needs to verify your identity and relation to the deceased before deciding whether you have a right to obtain a copy of their death certificate in the first place.
Keep this in mind if you plan on obtaining a copy of a death certificate in Idaho via the internet. The more documentation you can provide indicating you have a right to obtain a copy of someone’s death certificate, the less time you will have to wait for your order to be fulfilled.
Obtaining a Death Certificate in Idaho
Once more, the reasons someone may have for requesting a copy of a death certificate in Idaho (or any other state) range from needing to send a notification of death letter to the credit bureaus to needing to prove they are eligible for certain benefits after a loved one’s passing.
Regardless of why you may need a death certificate, if you’re planning to request one in Idaho, you should remember that you might need to wait a few weeks before you actually receive a copy. Luckily, while the process of ordering a death certificate does involve gathering certain documents and filling out forms, in general, it’s not very challenging or complex.
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