Certified Copies in Delaware: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Delaware
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Delaware, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $25.00
- Death certificate
- $25.00
- Marriage
- $25.00
- Divorce
- Certified copies not available from the state; county Prothonotary or Family Court
Vital records
Issued by: Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics
Post to: Office of Vital Statistics, Division of Public Health, 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901
Verify current fees: (302) 744-4549
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $25.00 |
| Death | $25.00 |
| Marriage | $25.00 |
| Divorce | Certified copies not available from the state; county Prothonotary or Family Court |
What Delaware requires
- Photo identification is required for ALL transactions; a copy must be enclosed with mailed requests.
- Births from 1942, deaths from 1974, marriages from 1974; earlier records at the Archives Hall of Records.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Delaware entity come from Delaware Secretary of State, normally online and often the same day.
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Delaware goes through Delaware Secretary of State.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Delaware birth certificate?
From Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics. Post to Office of Vital Statistics, Division of Public Health, 417 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901. A certified copy is $25.00.
Does the Delaware Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Delaware reject?
Photo identification is required for ALL transactions; a copy must be enclosed with mailed requests.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
