What is a death certificate?

A death certificate is either a legal document issued by a medical practitioner which states when a person died, or a document issued by a government civil registration office, that declares the date, location and cause of a person's death, as entered in an official register of deaths.

What does “Certified Copy” mean?

A certified copy can be used to establish the identity of the person named on the certificate, whereas a certified informational copy cannot be used to establish identity.  Certified copies can be used to settle accounts or other estate matters, and are printed on special paper with a stamp or embossed seal affixed by a county clerk.

Why do I need a Death Certificate?

In order to close accounts, settle payment arrangements or debts, or settle estates, you will need to provide the death certificate. Most insurance companies or employers will want copies in order to pay out benefits.

How long after a death will I get the death certificate?

Death certificates can be ordered as soon as the death is completely registered in the county where the loved one died. Registration of the death can take 5-10 business days, and includes communication between the doctor signing off on the cause of death, the funeral home reporting the vital statistics and final disposition and verification from Social Security. This process is completed almost entirely online.