Idaho Death Records

Idaho's mortality rate of 786.5 per 100,000 residents indicates a falling trend in the state's death rate over the last few years. The state's death rate is lower than the national average of 805.6 per 100,000 people in the United States. Idaho records approximately 16,563 deaths annually, with heart disease, cancer, and accidents as the leading causes of death.

Most counties in Idaho started officially recording deaths in 1907, while statewide recording began in mid-1911. However, some counties maintained records of deaths that occurred in their locality as far back as the 1890s. A death certificate is the official record of death and the most common type of death record in Idaho. It is the primary source of information about a person's death in the state.

For each death in Idaho, a death certificate is legally required to be filed with the local registrar of the county where the death occurred within 5 days after the date of the death. Per Section 39-260 of the state's Code, the funeral home or any individual in charge of a deceased person's remains is responsible for preparing an original death certificate and filing it. Depending on whether a death is from a natural or external cause, a physician or coroner will sign the original death certificate before the funeral home registers it with the local registrar.

An original death certificate is permanently on file with the local registrar of the county where the death occurred. However, anyone who needs a copy of the document may request a certified copy, which is acceptable for all legal purposes. A certified copy of an Idaho death certificate is a duplicate version of the original certificate that has been verified by the relevant government agency.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Idaho?

All requests for certified copies of death certificates in the state are handled by the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Eligible persons may obtain one in the state by taking the following steps:

• Complete the Certificate Request Form - Death with all the necessary information and sign it.
• Provide a photocopy of a current and valid driver's license or any other acceptable ID.
• Pay $16 per copy of the certificate requested by check or money order made out to Idaho Vital Records.

• Mail the completed application form, photocopy of ID, and fees to the state's Department of Health and Welfare at:

  Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

  Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics

  P.O. Box 83720

  Boise, ID 83720-0036

It takes between 3 and 5 weeks to process a standard non-RUSH death certificate order, while RUSH orders are processed in 2 to 3 weeks. However, anyone going for the RUSH processing option will have to pay an additional one-time charge of $10. They must write RUSHon the outside of the envelope before mailing the application to the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics.

Processed certified copies of Idaho death certificates are mailed to requesters through the USPS (United States Postal Service). Applicants who prefer to take delivery of their orders through another carrier must provide self-addressed envelopes (postage paid) from their chosen carrier.

Are Idaho Death Records Public?

In Idaho, death records are legally confidential for 50 years. They are part of the state's vital statistics records and are exempt from public disclosure unless disclosure substantially outweighs privacy from public disclosure as stipulated in Section 74-106 of the state's Code. Per Section 39-270(e) of the Idaho Code, records of death events in the custody of the state's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics only become public records when 50 years have elapsed after the date of death. Once public, the information in any death record is made openly available following state law.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Idaho?

Original death certificates in Idaho are not publicly available. Rather, they are maintained by the state's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Generally, Idaho death certificates for death events that are not over 50 years old are not open records. However, certain individuals are authorized to access and request certified copies of such certificates under state law.

Only persons with a direct and tangible interest in an Idaho death certificate may request certified copies of the certificate. They include the following:

• The decedent's spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, grandparents, guardian, and siblings. Step-parents, step-children, step-siblings, nephews, or nieces must provide proof demonstrating that the certificate is required to determine or protect property rights to be able to request certified copies of a death certificate in the state.
• Any other individual who can prove that the death certificate is needed to protect or determine their property rights.
• Authorized representatives of the deceased's immediate relatives or individuals with a direct and tangible interest. These include physicians, attorneys, funeral directors, legally designated agents, or entities whose purpose for getting certified copies of a death certificate is to pay direct benefits to individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the death certificate.
• Anyone with a court order from an Idaho court of competent jurisdiction.

Any member of the public may request an Idaho death certificate once it becomes a public record after 50 years have passed since the death event

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Idaho?

When a person dies in Idaho, state law requires filing the certificate of death with the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics within 5 days after the date of the person's death or discovery of death. Death certificates for individuals who die from natural causes are typically filed within 5 days, and in about 2 to 5 weeks, eligible persons may get certified copies of the certificates. However, when the cause of death is external and seems suspicious, an autopsy may be required to determine the cause of death, which generally delays the filing of the death certificate with the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.

When an autopsy is needed to investigate the cause of death, a "pending" death certificate is usually issued to establish that an individual has died. While there is no set amount of time to determine the cause and manner of death, an ideal autopsy is completed within 24 hours when there are no complications. However, in complicated cases, it may take 30 to 60 days to determine the cause and manner of death.

One of the common reasons for the delay is the need for further investigations, consultations, toxicology, and specialized testing to identify the cause of death. Sometimes, it takes between 4 and 6 weeks to complete a toxicology result in Idaho. Unfortunately, the Coroner will not prepare an original death certificate until the autopsy result is completed and the cause of death ascertained. Afterward, an eligible person may obtain certified copies of the certificate once filed with the state's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.

Can I View Idaho Death Records Online for Free?

Some historic death records in Idaho are available online for free. For instance, the S tate Archives has a searchable index for 1911 to 1956 state-level death certificates. It also provides microfilm copies of some death certificates from July 1911 through December 1937 and microfilm copies of county-level death registers for deaths before mid-1911. In addition, resources like FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com offer online access to certain historic death records in Idaho.

Similarly, third-party websites like Idahopublicrecords.us provide public records services, including giving members of the public access to publicly available death records in the state. Interested individuals may obtain death records online through these sites at a nominal fee.

Alternatively, anyone may find death information regarding death events that occur in Idaho free of charge through other substitute means. For example, estate files, church registers, newspapers, mortuary records, cemetery records, obituary records, tax records, and census, are alternative sources for death information in the state, especially for death events with no official records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Idaho?

A person would need copies of a death certificate for their loved one in Idaho for the following purposes:

• To cancel the deceased's subscriptions to various utility services, including phone bills.
• To notify relevant private organizations and government agencies about a person's death. These include insurance companies, the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Typically, the IRS will require filing a final tax return for the deceased person, while the SSA may continue paying some social security benefits to the deceased's family.
• To inform the decedent's credit card company about the person's death and cancel their credit card.
• To make funeral arrangements.
• To file insurance claims.
• To transfer the title for the deceased's assets, including vehicles and real estate, to beneficiaries.
• To keep receiving the deceased's pension and other retirement benefits.
• To help banks and other financial institutions verify a person's death before granting immediate relatives or the executor of the estate access to the deceased's bank accounts and other financial assets.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Idaho?

When requesting copies of a death certificate in Idaho, experts recommend getting between 8 to 12 certified copies of that death certificate. However, the exact number of copies needed can vary, depending on factors such as the decedent's estate size, the number of transactions requiring a certified copy of the death certificate, and the number of institutions or agencies that need a copy to verify a person's death.

Considering legal and administrative checklists like life insurance, credit cards, real estate deeds, health insurance, pension and retirement, the IRS, the SSA, home mortgage, bank account, and personal loans can help determine how many death certificates are needed. Generally, this list varies depending on a person's specific needs and the situation.