Death Registration for Morticians and Staff

What's New?

Resource for licensed morticians and funeral staff

Funeral home access to death certificates (PDF)

FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths

FEMA will help pay for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to COVID-19. See FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance webpage for who can apply and what expenses are covered. FEMA will accept applications starting Monday, April 12, 2021. Please tell the families you serve about this assistance. These one-page flyers will help.

• FEMA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Funeral Assistance - English (PDF)
• FEMA Asistencia para gastos fúnebres por COVID-19 - Spanish (PDF)

Minnesota Vital Records Program

The State Registrar manages the statewide vital records program and Minnesota Registration & Certification (MR&C). MR&C is a web-based registration and issuance system. Some users of MR&C register the deaths, fetal deaths and births that occur in Minnesota. Other MR&C users print certified copies of death and birth certificates for eligible requesters.

Importance of Death Registration

The death certificate is a permanent legal record of the fact and cause of death. An accurate and complete death record is a service to the decedent’s family. Families need death certificates to settle the affairs of their loved one and to obtain insurance, veterans' and retirement benefits.

National Vital Statistics System

In the United States, the legal authority to register deaths lies within 50 states, 2 cities, and 5 territories. These jurisdictions send death record information to the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) at CDC. CDC compiles national mortality statistics that help guide a variety of medical and health-related research efforts. Public health agencies use death record data to assess community health status and for disease surveillance.

Statutory Authority:

Minnesota Statutes, sections 144.211-144.227 and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4601.