Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 01/2017 Form 523
INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEATH RECORD APPLICATION
Eligibility: A certified copy of a death certificate can be issued only to a person with legitimate and tangible
interest as defined by the Rules Governing the Registration and Certification of Vital Events.
Primarily this is:
1) Parent(s) listed on the death record.
2) Spouse, sibling(s), or grandparent(s)/child(ren) of registrant, proof of relationship required.
3) Informant must be listed on death record.
4) Legal Guardian, guardianship papers must be provided.
5) Legal representative of one of the above persons, proof of representation must be provided.
6) Other person(s) by court order, certified copy of court order must be provided.
7) Funeral Home, must be the funeral home on record that took possession of the body.
For Genealogy purposes - Genealogy must be stated as purpose for certificate. Relationship to applicant must be
provided. Plain paper copies are provided for genealogy purposes.
Requirements for Ordering: If applicant is spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, grandchild, or informant, guardian, legal
representative, then the applicant must provide a completed application and a copy of a valid photo identification of
the applicant. Acceptable forms of identification are the following:
Guardian or legal representative must submit proof of guardianship/legal representation with this application. Legal
representatives must provide attorney bar number, name of person represented, and their relationship to the registrant.
If you are an agent of local, state or federal agency requesting a record, indicate in the space provided for
“relationship” the name of the agency. If you do not have one of the above referenced documents, please contact Vital
Records at 601-206-8200
Relationship or interest to Applicant: A person ordering a death certificate should enter the relationship or interest in this space.
Others must identify their relationship to the registrant clearly. For Genealogy purposes, relationship to applicant must
be provided.
Nonrefundable: Vital record fees are nonrefundable, with the exception of fees paid for additional copies when no record is found.
Failure to Receive: Complaints of failure to receive certified records will be honored within 6 months of the original request. If the
copy was to be returned to you by U.S. Postal Service, please allow 3 weeks after mailing the request before inquiring.
Inquiry about copies ordered with payment for special courier delivery should be made within 7 days of the request.
Mail returned because of insufficient address or address changes will be re-mailed if this office is notified of correct
address within 6 months of request.
Options for Service: Certified copies of death records may be ordered in person, by mail, or, if paying by credit card, online or by
telephone. Processing time is generally 7 – 10 working days after receipt of request. If amendment action is
necessary, additional processing time will be required. Payment of fees is required at the time of ordering.
• WALK-IN SERVICE is available at 222 Marketridge Dr., Ridgeland, MS between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Death
records are not available same day, all records will be mailed 7 – 10 business days after receipt of request.
• MAIL-IN requests, either on the form provided or as a free form request will be processed in the order received and will be
returned by regular U.S. Postal Service, unless accompanied by a prepaid special courier self-addressed envelope.
• PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD can be done using an online service or by telephone. The private company approved to
handle credit card transactions for Mississippi death records can be accessed by calling 1-877-295-4229 or by visiting
www.msdh.state.ms.us/phs and clicking on link for online ordering. If you have questions or need additional assistance call
601-206-8200. A recorded message outlining ordering requirements and options can be accessed by dialing 601-206-8200,
option 1.
MAIL THIS APPLICATION WITH PAYMENT TO
MISSISSIPPI VITAL RECORDS
P.O. BOX 1700
JACKSON, MS 39215-1700