Massachusetts · 14 counties
When someone dies in Massachusetts
Two things matter first: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick your county below for exact contacts.
The paperwork
Death certificates in Massachusetts
Certified copies come from the The city or town clerk where the death occurred, or the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (official site).
Start with the city or town clerk where the death happened, because they issue the certificate directly and are usually far quicker. Through the state Registry, each copy is $32, or $42 expedited. Standard mail orders take up to 30 business days, while marking the envelope for the attention of Expedited Mail Service gets it back in 7 to 10 business days. The Registry counter at 150 Mt. Vernon St, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125 is open weekdays 8:45am to 4:45pm and takes check or money order only.
Planning ahead
Nobody has died yet? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Massachusetts's exact rules and official forms.
Massachusetts power of attorney rulesPick your county