Rhode Island Death Records

The recent trend in death rates suggests a falling death rate in Rhode Island. The state has an age-adjusted mortality rate of 735.3 per 100,000 residents, with an average of 10,891 deaths recorded annually. The national age-adjusted death rate average of 805.6 per 100,000 total population is higher than Rhode Island's rate.

The registration of death events in Rhode Island dates back to the 1850s. While statewide registration of death records in Rhode Island began in 1853, the official registration of death events became mandatory at the municipal level in 1850. Rhode Island death records are government documents that provide information regarding the deaths of people in the state. They typically include the date of death, the place of death, and the cause of death.

Rhode Island death records typically take the form of death certificates. An original death certificate for each death that occurs in the state is filed with the state registrar of Vital Records, as stipulated in Section 23-3-16 of the Rhode Island General Laws. Once filed, any eligible person can obtain certified copies of the certificate in line with state law. A certified copy of a Rhode Island death certificate is a copy of the original document filed with the state registrar of Vital Records that has been verified as legally acceptable by a government seal or stamp. It contains all the information included in the original copy in the file of the Vital Records Office.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island death certificates are maintained by the Center for Vital Statistics of the state's Department of Health (RIDOH). There are multiple ways to request certified copies of those certificates, including the following:

• Mail-in/Drop Box Application - To obtain a certified copy of a death certificate from the Rhode Island Center for Vital Statistics by mail, take the following steps:

  • Fill out the Application for a Certified Copy of a Death Record.
  • Prepare a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, alien registration card, military ID, passport, or certificate of naturalization. Any applicant who is unable to provide a valid ID may prepare photocopies of any two other documents that bear their name and current address. Examples include car registration, utility bill, copy of income tax return, and bank statement.
  • Pay the applicable fee, depending on the number of certified copies of the death certificate requested. The first copy costs $25, while each additional copy ordered the same day costs $18. Only checks and money orders made out to the General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island, are acceptable payment methods for mail-in requests.

  • Mail the completed form, payment, and ID to the RIDOH at:

    Rhode Island Department of Health

    Center for Vital Records

    Simpson Hall

    6, Harrington Road

    Cranston, RI 02920

  Alternatively, applicants may submit the completed application form and other requirements in one package in the Drop Box at Simpson Hall. Most applications for certified copies of death certificates submitted to RIDOH by mail or in a Drop Box are processed within 2 to 4 weeks. However, RUSH requests can be processed within 5 to 7 working days.

• In-Person Application - To request a certified copy of a Rhode Island death certificate in person from the Center for Vital Records, take a completed application form and required identification, and submit it in person to the RIDOH at:

  Rhode Island Department of Health

  Center for Vital Records

  Simpson Hall

  6, Harrington Road

  Cranston, RI 02920

  Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday

  To avoid a long waiting time, it is best to schedule an appointment with the Center for Vital Statistics. A requester will be required to pay the applicable fee while submitting their application. Walk-in requests cost $22 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $18 for each additional copy purchased in the same order. Acceptable payment methods include cash, money orders, checks, Apple Pay, debit cards (Visa, Master Card, or Discover Card), Tap, and Samsung Pay. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island.

Are Rhode Island Death Records Public?

Death records under 50 years are not open records in Rhode Island. They may only be accessed by individuals with a direct and tangible interest. However, death records 50 years or older are generally considered public records in the state.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Rhode Island?

Original death certificates are not available for issuance in Rhode Island. Instead, they are maintained permanently on the file of the state's Center for Vital Records, where eligible and interested persons can obtain copies. While copies of death certificates for death events 50 years or older are public documents and may be requested by anyone, only certain individuals can request certified copies of a death certificate under 50 years. Such persons include the following:

• The deceased's spouse or registered partner.
• The deceased's children.
• The decedent's parents or legal guardians.
• The informant whose name is listed on the death certificate.
• Anyone with a court order to obtain the death certificate.
• Funeral director.
• Anyone requiring information to determine or protect a personal or property right.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, a death certificate is typically filed with the Center for Vital Records within 7 days after the death of a person. Hence, eligible persons may request and obtain certified copies of such a death certificate within a few weeks after the death of the subject. While it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to process a death certificate request, RUSH orders are generally processed in about 5 to 7 business days. However, the case is usually different when a death occurs under unusual circumstances, and an autopsy is needed to ascertain the cause and manner of death.

When a death warrants an autopsy in Rhode Island, it can take several weeks or months before the death certificate is ready. The completion of the final, original death certificate largely depends on the completion of all the required investigations and necessary tests, which typically takes a while. To ensure accuracy in autopsy reports, many tests, including microscopic studies, toxicology tests, and other medical examinations, take several weeks or even months in complex cases to complete. The Medical Examiner will prepare a final and original death certificate once the autopsy report is complete. Afterward, the original death certificate is filed with the Rhode Island Center for Vital Statistics, where copies are issued to eligible persons.

Can I View Rhode Island Death Records Online for Free?

All open death records and their indexes (50 years or older) in Rhode Island are available online through the State Archives and can be downloaded and printed. Interested persons may even get the State Archives to certify all open death records from 1853 to 1974. Furthermore, FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com are reliable online sources for publicly available death records in the state.

Also, third-party websites like RhodeIslandpublicrecords.us offer access to publicly available death records in the state. However, these sites do not provide free services. With specific search parameters, interested persons will be able to access publicly available records of death events at a nominal fee.

Alternatively, substitute records can serve as free sources of death information in Rhode Island, especially for death events with no official records with the state's Center for Vital Records. Anyone looking to find death information in the state may consider checking church records, cemetery records, probate records, tax records, obituaries, newspapers, census, hospital records, or insurance records. Other alternative sources include pension records, depositions, almshouse records, mortality schedules, and mortuary records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Rhode Island?

A Rhode Island death certificate is usually required to address several legal matters after the death of a person. In addition to providing proof that someone has died, copies of a death certificate are needed for the following purposes in the state:

• Arranging a funeral.
• Filing an insurance claim.
• Notifying creditors about the death of a person.
• Transferring the control of the deceased's property to beneficiaries, usually in line with the will.
• Informing certain government agencies and institutions about a person's death. Such entities include the IRS, SSA, and insurance companies.
• Closing a deceased person's bank accounts to enable the estate administrator authorized member of the family, to access the decedent's financial accounts.
• Transferring the deceased's pension benefits, Medicaid benefits, veteran benefits (if applicable), and other retirement or employment benefits to an authorized beneficiary.
• Canceling the deceased's credit cards and subscriptions to utility services, including telephone services.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Rhode Island?

Certain factors must be considered to determine the actual number of copies of a death certificate to obtain in Rhode Island. Generally, the number of copies needed varies and largely depends on a person's specific needs. However, in most ideal situations, getting 8 to 12 copies of a death certificate in Rhode Island should be adequate for the purposes for which they are required.

To determine the actual number that is needed, a person should identify all the legal and administrative purposes for which they are needed, and if possible, make a checklist of such purposes. In addition, it is important to consider the size of the deceased's assets (additional copies may be needed to manage those assets), insurance policies, income tax returns, and employer benefits when determining how many copies of a death certificate to obtain in the state. Overall, the specific circumstances will help determine the number of copies of a death certificate that are needed.