If someone in your family passed away, the last thing you want to do is think about legal responsibilities. Unfortunately, the close relatives and spouses of decadents often have a great deal of legal responsibility that can include:
- Registering the deceased’s death
- Closing their estate and affairs
- Updating their status with the government and financial institutions
What do you need a death certificate for? A certified death certificate proves a death and acts as legal permission to close or cease the deceased person’s accounts. Additionally, health officials use death certificates to create health and death indexes for public records. Understandably, the reasons why you need a death certificate can vary based on your unique situation. If you received an older death certificate or someone has died in your family some time ago, you may need to order a replacement death certificate to finalize their affairs.
Registering Death
Most states mandate the issuance of a death certificate within 72 hours of someone passing away. You then have to register the death with local health officials within 5 days of the death. This situation may change depending on extreme circumstances, such as if there is no physician or coroner on hand to complete an autopsy and sign the certificate of death or if the cause of death is unclear and ongoing investigations slow the progress. In most cases, you will receive a death certificate within a maximum of about 12 days, after which you must immediately register the death.
Burial and Cremation
What else do you need a death certificate for? You need one for proper handling of a deceased person’s body in the United States. It is illegal to bury, cremate, or transport a body in the U.S. without a death certificate and burial permit. In most cases, you will be issued a burial, cremation, or transport permit at the time of the death certificate based on the deceased’s or your wishes, which you must communicate to the funeral home or mortuary. A burial permit is also called a Certificate of Disposition of Remains in most states. The appropriate coroner also typically signs this document. You will also need a certified copy of the death certificate if you travel overseas, as most embassies and consulates will wish to retain a copy for records.
Claiming Benefits for Living Relatives
What do you need a death certificate for? A deceased individual’s surviving relatives must have a certified death certificate to claim insurance, Medicaid, and pension-related benefits. In most cases, you will also need certified vital records proving your relationship to the deceased, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or court order. You will need certified copies of this document for:
- Each insurance policy or plan (home, mortgage, life, automobile, etc.)
- Workplace and state pensions
- Medicaid
For an easier way to track down and obtain these critical documents, choose Vital Records Online. We’re ready to help answer questions about what you need to obtain a birth certificate. If you’re unsure about what you need a death certificate for, we can help.
Settling Affairs
Most people who die leave behind financial and legal responsibilities, which will continue to mount up if not closed. When researching what you need a death certificate for, you’ll quickly learn it proves a death and legally closes a deceased person’s accounts, including:
- Bank accounts
- 401k accounts
- Utility and service accounts (energy, water, phone, internet)
- Rentals
- Credit card
- Absolve other debt
Other Reasons Why You Need a Death Certificate
Many people eventually need a death certificate to prove absence, especially in the case of a minor child or a surviving spouse.
For Minor Children
- Proving parental absence
- Acquiring a passport
- Attending college
- Enrolling in high school
- Getting a driver’s license
- Acquiring a state ID
- Applying for tuition grants
Spouses
- Receiving benefits
- Obtaining insurance benefits
- Acquiring property in your name previously shared with the deceased person
- Remarrying
How to Order Death Certificates Online
While you can always return to the issuing funeral home or mortuary to request a copy of the death certificate, that isn’t always convenient or possible. However, you can order copies of death certificates online at Vital Records Online. What do you need to obtain a death certificate? You’ll typically need to present your identification and proof of your relationship to the deceased. This need for a newer certificate is especially important if it has been some time since the deceased passed away or you live in another area or state.
Is Anyone Able to Obtain a Copy of a Death Certificate Online?
Some states hold death certificates as public records. Others do not. However, if you want a certified death certificate listing the full cause of death, you will have to prove your relationship to the deceased with a:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage license
- Court order
- Personal photo ID
What do you need a death certificate for? Many things. Thankfully, visiting Vital Records Online streamlines getting death, marriage, birth, and divorce certificates. Not sure what you need to obtain a death certificate? Contact us for help!