While most funeral homes will provide you with a copy, if you never received one or it was lost, it can be a real hassle to replace it.

In order to get a certified copy of a death certificate, you have to file a formal request with your state government. Unfortunately, it's not an easy process. You have to fill out the request form, have it notarized if necessary, print and sign it, and mail it along with copies of your government-issued ID and a check/money order to your state Vital Records office.

DoNotPay wants to make it easier for you to access certified copies of death certificates for you or your loved ones.

Through our Death Certificates product, you can digitally apply and request certified copies straight from your laptop. We'll walk you through a few questions to locate the certificate and verify your identity before generating a completed request form. Once you confirm that everything is correct, we'll mail it to the state records office with a check to cover the application fee on your behalf.

If the application requires a notarization, we'll help you schedule an online appointment through our virtual Notary product.

Here's how it works:

1. Go to the Death Certificates product on DoNotPay.

2. Enter the details of the person who is on the death certificate, and select/upload evidence that proves your relationship with them.

3. Enter the city, state, and hospital (if applicable) the registrant passed away in, so we can complete the correct form.*

4. Indicate what you will be using this certificate for, and choose whether you need an authorized or certified copy.

5. Enter your contact information and shipping address. Upload copies of your government-issued identification, such as a driver's license.

6. Choose whether you would like to electronically sign this form or not. Once we generate the form, verify that all of the information is correct

7. If you need the document to be notarized, schedule a notarization appointment using our Notary product. Otherwise, proceed to our Mail Checks product and let DoNotPay mail-in your request form with a check on your behalf.*

And that's it! Your death certificate copy request will be sent and on its way! You should hear back from them within a few weeks with updates once your request has been processed.