How to get a death certificate in Arkansas

Fees and where to order in Arkansas

• Agency: Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205.
• Fee: $10.00 first copy, $8.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time. If no record is found, $10.00 is kept as a search fee.
• Online orders add a $5.00 processing fee and a $1.85 identity verification fee, plus any expedited shipping.
• Online: 7 to 14 business days from order approval, plus shipping. Phone: toll free (866) 209-9482.
• Mail: application, copy of photo ID, and check or money order to ADH Vital Records, Slot 44. The ordering page says to allow 10 to 14 days plus mail time; the application form says 7 to 14 days.
• Walk-in: same-day issuance, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays, per the application form.
• Who can order a death record (ADH eligibility list): mother, father if named on the birth certificate, child, spouse, grandchild, maternal grandparents of the deceased, informant, funeral home, beneficiary with proper documentation.

Sources: ADH, Order Death Records; ADH Death Certificate Application (VR-8); ADH, Eligible Individuals for Birth and or Death Certificates

How the death certificate fits the cremation timeline

Arkansas does not require a coroner or medical examiner to approve every cremation. Their approval is needed when the death falls under their authority. Every cremation needs a burial-transit/cremation permit from the local registrar of vital records, and the death certificate must be certified first.

• Coroner or medical examiner approval is required only when the death comes under their authority (17 CAR 30-208(a)).
• A burial-transit permit is required for every cremation (20 CAR 1-701(a)). It is issued by the State Registrar of Vital Records or a designated representative, at the funeral director's request.
• Form: Arkansas Department of Health Burial-Transit/Cremation Permit (VR-30), signed by the local registrar or deputy registrar.
• The crematory also needs a signed cremation authorization form, the permit, and a death certificate or other disposition authorization (17 CAR 30-205).
• Permit fee: not stated on the pages read. See the unverified list.
• All cremations in Arkansas must be arranged through a licensed funeral establishment (17 CAR 30-214(e)).

Sources: 17 CAR 30-208, Cremation procedures; 20 CAR 1-701, Burial-transit permit; ADH Burial-Transit/Cremation Permit (VR-30); 17 CAR 30-214, Miscellaneous provisions

What to use the certified copies for

Social Security pays a one-time $255 death payment to a surviving spouse. If there is no spouse, some children may get it. You must apply within 2 years of the death, by phone or online after signing in.

Banks, insurers, pension plans, the VA and the county recorder each usually want their own certified copy, so ask the funeral home how many to order at the start. Extra copies ordered at the same time often cost less.

• A spouse who lived with the person may qualify. A spouse living apart may qualify if they can get benefits on the deceased's record.
• If there is no spouse, eligible children include those 17 or younger, 18 to 19 in school (K to 12) full time, or any age if disabled before age 22 ("at age 21 or younger").
• Apply within 2 years of the death.
• Phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; tell the representative you want to apply for a lump-sum death payment. The page also offers an online application after signing in to an account.

Source: SSA, Lump-sum death payment