If your loved one has passed away or you’re looking to confirm if someone is deceased, it may be time for you to request or locate their death certificate. Most of the time, you’ll need this for your records, as it’s essential to handling your loved one’s end-of-life-planning tasks. Getting a death certificate made or copied takes a few simple steps, but it differs from state to state.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Who Can Request a Death Certificate in Wyoming?
- Steps for Ordering a Death Certificate in Wyoming
- Frequently Asked Questions: Wyoming Death Certificates
There are many tasks that you might need a death certificate for when handling your loved one's affairs. This document is essential if you’re now in charge of your loved one’s estate and have to settle bills and personal property. And if you have to handle their finances or if you haven’t yet notified the IRS of their death, you’ll need their death certificate to do so.
If your loved one passed away in the state of Wyoming, the information below will help you navigate the process of obtaining a death certificate.
Who Can Request a Death Certificate in Wyoming?
Each state has unique laws when it comes to the privacy of its residents’ death certificates. Different states can determine what information is detailed on their files and how specific they are. There are offices of vital statistics that keep records of the death records filed, much like birth records.
The leniency in each state differs, so depending on the state they might offer informational copies that can be requested by anyone. Informational copies are normally used for research purposes to help build case studies and long-form documents.
Death certificates in Wyoming may be secured by any immediate family member, like the deceased’s children, parent, or spouse. A lawyer representing your family may always obtain one for you, as well. Death certificates can also be obtained by a deceased person’s estate shareholders, insurance companies, banks, or anyone with proper documentation that needs the certificate.
Be prepared to identify your relationship to the deceased if you’re not named on their death certificate. You’ll have to submit a document that represents your connection when you submit your application. A good example of this is a birth certificate or a marriage license. To avoid any unnecessary processing delays in getting their death certificate, make sure that you submit everything together as one package.
Steps for Ordering a Death Certificate in Wyoming
Figuring out how to get a death certificate in Wyoming takes only a few steps. Before working towards getting one made, make sure that there isn’t already one on file. You can do this by performing a death certificate search to see if any previous records are available on your loved one. The State of Wyoming has records on file from July 1909, and records from before then can be found in the Wyoming State Archives.
Oftentimes the funeral home or a medical professional will file the death certificate themselves, like your loved one’s coroner or certified physician. They work alongside the funeral director to get the certificate submitted to the state or county records office. If they have previously submitted your file, they should be able to supply you with copies when requested.
Making a request through the State of Wyoming records office is also an option. Wyoming offers online requests which allow you to check the status of the certificate.
If you cannot find their records, the next thing to do would be to put in a request. Below are the steps involved in requesting a death certificate.
Step 1: Complete a death certificate form online
The first step in obtaining a death certificate for the deceased is to fill out a death certificate form through the State of Wyoming. Basic information about the decedent will be required. You will have to provide personal details of the deceased, so make sure to reach out to someone who may have any additional information needed.
Requested information will include the deceased’s name, sex, previous address, Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, father’s name, veteran status, and marital status. It also may include information about the surviving spouse.
The form requires that you provide the purpose of the request, contact information (address, email, phone number), and a signature from you or whoever the request is filed under.
Don’t forget to send in a valid copy of your government-issued photo identification along with the documentation. Other information, like time and cause of death, and burial instructions, will have to be provided by a certified medical professional. Their license number will have to be noted on the request form. Please note that you can call the State of Wyoming’s office or go online to get more information.
Step 2: Pay the state fee and service fee
Ordering a certified copy of a death certificate will cost you $15.00. You can also purchase additional copies of the certificate for $10.00 each. Unless you’re ordering a death certificate online, there will be a $10.00 credit card convenience charge.
You can pay with a money order or a personal check by sending it in with the form or going in person to drop it off. Their office will work as quickly as possible to process your request, but be mindful of important dates that you may need the certificate by.
Step 3: Send the application package to State Health Department
Some professionals can file for you, or you can file online, in person, or by sending in your application through the mail. The process can take anywhere from three to thirty days from filing the form to receive the document. It usually takes longer to process if you mail in the form to your state’s office.
This is the last step in the process of receiving a certificate from the state of Wyoming. Make sure that you have all required documents, information, and that you bring any questions you may have to the right people while going through the process.
Frequently Asked Questions: Wyoming Death Certificates
Remember that you can contact the Wyoming Department of Public Health and Environment to ask for any assistance or additional information. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help you move forward with this process.
How much does it cost to get an older death certificate in Wyoming?
If you’re unaware of the date of death, there is help available that includes a searching fee of $25 for every five years searched, which includes either a certified copy or verification of the record if it’s found.
Required information to complete your order includes the full name of the deceased, their date of death, their place of death, the reason for your request, and the date of application submission. You’ll have to include your signature, relationship to the deceased, home address, email address, and daytime phone number.
How long does it take to receive a death certificate?
Certificates are mailed within one to five weeks upon receipt of all required documentation. The option for a rush order is available if you need the certificate quickly. The sooner you put in your request, the sooner you’ll receive your loved one’s death certificate.
Get Your Wyoming Death Certificate
Getting your Wyoming death certificate can take anywhere from five to twenty business days. However, when mailing in orders it may take up to 20 business days from when you send everything in. Keep in mind all of the files and information needed from you to complete this process. Make sure to keep the contact information handy of all parties involved and the necessary documents handy.
If you're a Wyoming resident and ready to start preparing your own end-of-life planning documents, Cake has Advance Care Planning forms you can download. To help ease your planning, we have all the documents you need in one place.
Sources:
- “How To Obtain A Death Certificate.” Wyoming Department of Health, 2021, health.wyo.gov.
- “Official Wyoming Death Certificate” Vital Records, 2021, vitalrecordsonline.com.