Funeral Home Staff Reference

Minnesota Statutes, sections 144.211 to 144.227, and Minnesota Rules, chapter 4601 lay out requirements related to death registration in Minnesota.

On this page:
Change a death record
Death registration requirements
Delayed registrations
Fees
Fetal deaths
Request death certificates

Change a death record

Corrections

Funeral home staff may correct fact of death when all these conditions are true:

• Staff from the funeral home registered the death record
• No death certificates have been issued
• Within one year of the date of death

Amendments

Once a vital records office issues a death certificate, any changes to the fact of death require an amendment. To request changes, the funeral home must complete the Funeral Home Application to Amend a Death Record (PDF). Instructions for Funeral Homes (PDF) describes how to complete the form.

Funeral home staff may request death record amendments one or more years after the death. However, the funeral home must complete the Death Record Amendment Application (PDF) form and supply documentation to support the amendment.

Change cause of death

There is no fee to change cause of death information.

The medical certifier named on the death certificate may change the cause of death in MR&C at any time, without filling out a request form.

A medical examiner or coroner with jurisdiction in the county of death who is not the medical certifier must complete a Request to Change Cause or Manner of Death (PDF) form. The Office of Vital Records must receive the completed form to make the change.

Death registration requirements

The mortician, funeral director, or other person in charge of disposition of the body must:

• Register the death in Minnesota Registration & Certification (MR&C).
• Register a death record for each Minnesota death within five days after death and before final disposition.
• Determine which medical certifier will supply the cause and manner of death information. Medical certifiers are:
  • Physicians, including medical examiners and coroners
  • Advanced practice registered nurses
  • Physician assistants

Vital Records Act, Minnesota Statutes, sections 144.211 to 144.227
Minnesota Statutes, section 144.221
Minnesota Statutes, section149A.90, subdivision 1
Minnesota Rules, part 4601.1500

Delayed registrations

"Delayed registration," means registration of a death a year or more after the date of death. The Office of Vital Records will register a death a year or more after the event. Contact health.vitalrecords@state.mn.us or 651-201-5970 for information about delayed registrations.

Fees

• A certified death certificate costs $13. Extra death certificates bought at the same time cost $6 each.
• The fee to process a Funeral Home Application to Amend a Minnesota Death Record is $40.
• The fee to register a death a year or more after the event is $40.
• There is no fee for the medical certifier or medical examiner/coroner to change the cause or manner of death.

Minnesota Statutes, section 144.226
Minnesota Rules, part 4601.2100

Fetal deaths

MR&C is not set up for funeral establishments to report fetal deaths. A fetal death is the death of a fetus prior to or during delivery. Birth registrars or medical examiners/coroners enter fetal deaths at 20 or more weeks of gestation into MR&C.

Funeral establishments may have a role in the disposition of fetal remains. Find the Fetal Death Disposition Permit under Miscellaneous Forms on the
Mortuary Science Applications and Forms webpage or on Forms Related to Documentation of Death .

Minnesota Statutes, section 144.222
Minnesota Statutes, section 145.1621

Request death certificates

Funeral home staff may request death certificates for the decedent’s family within 180 days of the date of death. The decedent’s family includes a child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the decedent. The mortician may request death certificates for the legal custodian, guardian, or conservator, or health care agent of the decedent.

If the death certificate requires changes after purchase, see Change a death record above.

Funeral home access to death certificates (PDF)

Minnesota Statutes, section 144.225