Idaho Death Records

Are Death Certificates Public in Idaho?

No. According to Idaho statutes, death certificates are deemed confidential until at least 50 years after the individual's demise. During its confidentiality period, Idaho death certificates can be accessed by persons with a tangible interest in the record and those with a familial relationship with the deceased. They will also be accessible to persons with a judicial order.

What Shows Up on Death Records in Idaho?

An Idaho death record is legal documentation of the death of the subject of the record. Typically, a death record also contains information about the decedent and the cause of death. Death occurrences are vital events that are recorded in Idaho. Proper documentation of death occurrences is useful in designing effective public health policies and measuring the policies' impact. Death records are used in the compilation of data on various statistics, including leading causes of death.

A death record is required before a death certificate can be issued. A death certificate is a permanent legal record of the fact of death. There are many reasons to obtain a death certificate. Like most Idaho vital records, it serves various legal purposes. A death certificate is required to claim benefits or properties belonging to a deceased person, including life insurance proceeds, social security benefits, and veterans’ benefits. It is also required before a funeral can be conducted.

Idaho counties were not required to keep death records until 1907. Until then, some death records were kept by doctors, morticians, and churches. Those records are incomplete compared to the amount of information in death records kept by the Idaho Vital Records. The keeping of death records statewide in Idaho began in 1911, with death occurrences required to be registered directly with the state Vital Records office of the Department of Health and Welfare.

An Idaho death certificate contains:

• The decedent's name
• The decedent's place of death
• The decedent's age
• The decedent's occupation or kind of business
• The decedent's usual residence
• The cause of death
• The decedent's marital status
• The decedent's sex
• The decedent’s date of birth
• The decedent's birthplace
• The decedent’s father’s name
• The decedent's mother's maiden name
• The name of the decedent's spouse
• The decedent's color or race

How are Death Records Created in Idaho?

In Idaho, the certifying physician treating a patient for the last illness before death must complete the medical certification portion of the death certificate within 72 hours from the time of death. The state may not require medical certification of the cause of death within 72 hours if the rule would cause an "undue hardship". However, under Section 39-260 of the Idaho Code, the certifying physician or coroner must complete the medical certification within 15 days of the filing of the death certificate.

If the physician is not available or gives approval, the physician who performed an autopsy on the deceased person can complete the death certificate if:

• The deceased person's medical history is accessible to the physician performing the autopsy, and
• The death is due to natural causes

However, if the death was due to a reason other than natural causes or if a physician was not present during the last illness, the case is referred to the coroner. The coroner will record and certify the death certificate to reflect the cause and manner of death. The information will then be conveyed to the State of Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Note that the coroner does not issue death certificates to the public. The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics can only issue death certificates.

How to Find Death Records Online in Idaho?

Idaho death records are not open records or available for lookup online. However, eligible persons can search death records online through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's partnership with a third-party company. The partnership allows death record requests to be processed promptly and for relatively inexpensive fees. The company accepts all major credit cards for online transactions. Requesters may be asked to fax some identification information in order to complete requests. Additional fees are also charged for processing and shipping.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through traditional government sources and third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are a good place to start when looking for specific or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

• The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
• The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

How to Find Death Records for Free in Idaho?

Idaho death records are not issued to requesters for free. Under Idaho law, there is a statutory fee to obtain a certified copy of an Idaho death record. The issuing agency allows qualified persons to obtain certified copies by mail. However, a request will not be considered complete without paying the correct fees and presenting acceptable identification. A requester must provide a photocopy of their driver's license or other current signed government (tribal, state, or federal) issued picture identification.

Alternatively, copies of two other forms of identification may be provided; one of which must include the signature of the requester. Note that identification is accepted upon validity verification by the Vital Records Office. An application will be returned to the requester resulting in a significant delay in processing if acceptable identification is not enclosed in a birth record application or if an application is incomplete.

The approved forms of identification for a birth record request are:

One of

• Driver's license
• State ID card
• Passport
• Tribal ID card
• Concealed weapons permit
• Prison ID card

OR two forms of current ID (one must have a signature)

• Social Security Card with signature
• Work ID card with picture or signature
• Auto registration with signature
• Traffic ticket with signature
• Court record with a signature
• College or School ID with a picture
• Matricula Card with signature
• Insurance record
• Auto insurance
• Driver permit
• Pay stub
• Hunting or Fishing license
• Passport card

OR

• Notarized signature on the request
• Have an immediate family member (the relation must possess a current ID from the approved list) make the request. Proof of relation may be required.
• Court order

Individuals who have not received their orders within the stipulated processing times may verify the status of their orders by contacting the Idaho Vital Records office at (208) 334-5980 or at ivr@dhw.idaho.gov

How to Obtain Idaho Death Records in Person?

The Idaho Health and Welfare's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics does not provide in-person orders for death records in the state. All requests for certified copies of death records must be by mail or online.

How to Obtain Idaho Death Records by Mail?

To obtain an Idaho death record by mail:

• Complete the Idaho Vital Statistics Certificate Request Form
• Attach valid identification (both sides of the signed picture ID)
• Include a check or money order of the appropriate fee
• Enclose the completed form, identification, and check or money order in a mail to:

Idaho Vital Records
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036

Certificates are returned to requesters through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPS will not deliver mail from the Idaho Health and Welfare's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics to the address provided unless the recipient of the order is registered with them as a resident. A requester who prefers delivery from another carrier is required to provide a postage-paid, self-addressed shipping envelope from the carrier of choice.

Note that the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics cannot deposit unsigned checks or money orders. If a payment for an order is not signed or if the request is incomplete, the requester will receive a letter asking for missing information.

How to Obtain Death Records in Idaho

To obtain a certified copy of a death record in Idaho, visit the state Health and Welfare's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. The Vital Records Office maintains and issues death records from July 1911.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Death Certificate in Idaho?

Per Idaho law, death certificates in the state are confidential records and can only be obtained by eligible persons. These include:

• Mother, father, or the legal guardian of the person named on the death certificate
• Husband or wife of the person named on the death certificate
• Grandparents of the person named on the death certificate
• Son or daughter of the person named on the death certificate
• Grandchildren of the person named on the death certificate
• Sister or brother of the person named on the death certificate
• The legal representative of the person named on the death certificate
• Persons who provide documentation showing that obtaining a death record is required for their property right

Note that anyone can obtain an Idaho death certificate 50 years or later from the date of the death for genealogy reasons. Per Title 39, Chapter 2 of the Idaho Statutes, obtaining a death record under false pretense is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, five years in prison, or both.

How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost in Idaho?

A search for an Idaho death record costs $16. The fee is inclusive of the costs of a certified copy of a death record if found. Certified copies are computer-generated and can be used for practically all legal purposes. If a requested record cannot be found, a “Statement of Search” will be issued. A certified photocopy of a death record also costs $16. Certified photocopies, unlike certified copies, are not computer-generated. Requesters are advised to confirm the total costs for orders before making payment. Overpayments of less than $10 are not refunded unless requested in writing. All fees for requests by mail are to be made by one check or money order. Make checks or money orders payable to "Idaho Vital Records". Checks and money orders are deposited the day after they are received at the Vital Records and Health Statistics office.

For online requests, a $10.50 fee applies for each order made through Idaho's third-party vendor. Expedited (RUSH) orders cost $10 per copy of the death record requested. Expedited shipping via UPS for most delivery areas is charged at $19 per order. All credit card orders are processed through Idaho's third-party vendor.

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

Requests for certified copies of Idaho death certificates made to the Vital Records office take 1-2 weeks to complete when expedited service is requested. Non-RUSH orders take 4-6 weeks to process. These periods only start counting from the moment properly completed certificate orders are received at the Vital Records Office. Estimated mailing times are included in these time frames. Requesters who place requests online typically receive their certificates faster in a few business days due to the elimination of physical payments and mail processing.

Note that due to COVID-19 restrictions, staffing levels at the Vital Records Office may be affected. Hence, services may be interrupted which may delay processing times for death record requests. The volume of requests placed to the Idaho Vital Records Office has risen in recent times as a result of the upcoming Real ID requirement for persons to obtain a Star Card driver's license; hence, requesters are also advised to make requests early enough to meet their deadlines.

How Long to Keep Records After Death?

When an individual dies, family members or related persons must locate certain important papers of the decedent. These papers may be needed for several reasons including settling the decedent's final affairs and completing the probate or trust settlement process.

The decedent's vital records, such as the birth record, death records, and marriage certificates, must be kept permanently. Other records and the length of periods for which they must be kept are:

• Medical records - 10 years
• Financial records including tax returns - 3 years
• Wills - permanently
• Adoption papers - permanently
• Contracts, insurance documents, stock certificates, property records, and records of pension and retirement plans should be kept while active.

How to Expunge Death Records in Idaho?

Expungement refers to sealing a record and prohibiting access to its contents except in limited circumstances. In some instances, the term even extends to the physical destruction of a file or record to make it inaccessible to members of the public. Expungement is usually backed by court order and in the limited circumstances where an expunged record is accessible, must be upon court order. An expungement is useful where the subject of a record or persons connected to the record would be better served with the erasure of the event stated on the record.

How to Seal Death Records in Idaho?

Idaho makes no provision for death records to be sealed or expunged.

How to Unseal Death Records in Idaho?

Although Idaho death records under 50 are closed, such records are not sealed by court order and can be obtained by eligible persons. Idaho death records cannot be sealed. As of 2024, no statutes have been established to provide for unsealing death records in the state.