Claim Eligible Survivor Benefits After a Family Death

Certified copies come from two places. The funeral home that handled the burial usually includes copies in its package — the fastest route, commonly $25–$30 per copy, ready within a few days. The county or state vital-records office is cheaper at roughly $10–$20 per copy, but orders commonly take 1–3 weeks by mail. A full round of survivor claims uses 10–15 copies because most institutions keep the copy you send them.