Obtaining Certified Death Certificates

Certified Death Certificates are issued in the state where the person died. The following list contains the address and phone number of the Vital Records offices in the tri-state region. There is a fee for each death certificate which varies from state to state.

Delaware -- Bureau of Vital Statistics 
258 Chapman Road, 
Ste. 104 Newark, DE 19702 
(302)-283-7130

Maryland - Division of Vital Records Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
6550 Reistertown Avenue
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0020
(410) 764-3038

New Jersey -- New Jersey State Department of Health & Senior Services State Registrar Search Unit 
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
(609) 282-4087

Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records 
101 South Mercer Street
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16101
1-877-PA-HEALTH

Social Security 

Should be notified of a death no matter what the age

Social Security Office 
920 W. Basin Road
Suite 200 
New Castle, DE 19720
1-800-772-1213

Social Security Office
20105 Office Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 856-9620

Civil Service Federal Employees

Report death of a civil service employee to:

Office of Personnel Management Retirement Operations Center 
P.O. Box 45 
Boyers, PA 16017
(724)-794-2005 
www.opm.gov/retire.com

Railroad Retirement

If deceased had any service with the railroad, contact:

U.S. Railroad Retirement Board District Office 
The Nix Federal Building 
900 Market Street, Ste. 301 
Philadelphia, PA 19105 
(877)-772-5772

Veteran's Survivors Benefits

Application for survivor benefits can be arranged through the local Veterans office:

Veterans Administration
1601 Kirkwood Highway 
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 994-2511 OR (800) 827-1000
www.va.gov

Life Insurance Commissioner

Can assist with phone numbers, identify current company holder for a particular insurance policy and may help locating lost policies:

Office of Insurance Commissioner 
841 Silverlake Boulevard
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-4251 OR (800) 282-8611

Vehicle Titles

Provide Certified Death Certificate along with appropriate paperwork to change title on vehicle must be done at:

Auto Title Transfer - Division of Motor Vehicle 
2230 Hessler Blvd. 
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 434-3200

OR

Division of Motor Vehicle
161 Airport Road 
New Castle, DE 19720 

(302)-326-5004 
www.dmv.de.gov

Boat Title Transfer - Eastern Marine
831 S. Chapel Street 
Newark, DE 19713
(302) 737-6603

Register of Wills

The Register of Wills should be notified of a death regardless of whether the deceased had a will or not. A certified death certificate should be filed with them also. If an estate needs to be opened, the Register of Wills works with the Executor/Executrix to determine what needs to be done.

Delaware Register of Wills:
Mailing Address: 
Register of Wills 
New Castle County Government Center 
87 Read's Way 
New Castle, DE 19720
www.nccde.org/wills

Physical Address:
Register of Wills 
Lewis K. Redding City/County Building 
800 French Street, 2nd Floor 
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 395-7800

Chester County Register of Wills
2 North High Street
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 344-6335

Cecil County Register of Wills
Room 307 
Cecil County Courthouse 
Elkton, MD 21921
(410) 996-5330