State laws govern who can obtain a death certificate from the Department of Vital Records. Some states limit who can get a death certificate to “qualified applicants.” Typically, qualified applicants must be directly related by blood, or marriage, to the decedent or have a legal relationship with the deceased, such as a court-ordered guardian or attorney of record. Other states do not limit access.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention maintains individual state and territory information on who to contact to obtain vital records.