Tennessee Death Records

Tennessee death records are issued by the state Office of Vital Records. You also have the option of ordering a copy of a record online if you wish. Online records are available from websites which link to an information database.

Restrictions on Who Can Order a Tennessee Death Record

Tennessee death records may only be ordered by the following individuals:

• – Spouse of the deceased person
• – Parent of the deceased
• – Deceased’s legal guardian
• – Authorized representative of one of the people listed above

Authorized representatives can obtain a copy of a death record in TN if he or she provides a photocopy of a valid governnment-issued ID. The representative must also produce a signed statement form the person he or she is acting for, and a photocopy of the client’s photo ID. If these conditions are met, the representative can pick up a copy of the death record for his or her client.

Cost to Obtain a Tennessee Death Record

 

The fee for a first copy of a death certificate is $7.00. Additional copies may be obtained for $7.00 each.

Apply for a Tennessee Death Certificate in Person

Counter service for TN death records is offered by the Office of Vital Records, which is located at:

1st Floor, Central Services Building
421 5th Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37243

The Office of Vital Records is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. On Tuesday and Thursday, it is open until 6:00 p.m.

If the death occurred within the past few years, you may be able to obtain a copy of the record from the county health department where the death took place.

In most cases, your order will be filled while you wait. You will need to complete an application form (available at the Vital Records Office) and show a government-issued ID card (which shows your signature). If you don’t have photo ID, you can use one of the following items instead:

• – Driver’s license indicating issue and expiration dates
• – Passport
• – Military ID card
• – Temporary or permanent resident card
• – Alien card
• – Citizenship ID card
• – U.S. Certificate of Naturalization

In a situation where you don’t have any of the items listed above, two of the following may be used:

• – Pay stub
• – W-2 form
• – Vehicle registration card
• – Voter registration card
• – Bank statement or utility bill
• – Social Security Card (signed)
• – Medical record
• – Health insurance coverage card

Order a Tennessee Death Record by Mail

Tennessee death records may be ordered by sending a completed application form and a check or money order payable to “Tennessee Vital Records” to:

Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Central Services Building
421 5th Avenue, North Nashville,
TN 37243

Order a Tennessee Death Certificate Online

Another option for people who don’t want to visit the Vital Records Office or wait to have a mail-in order processed is to visit a website which will provide a Tennessee death record for a fee.