Paperwork is typically the last thing a family wants to think about after the death of a loved one. Funeral preparations and settling finances are time consuming enough, especially during a time when a family is still trying to process grief. However, despite all of these pressing forces, it is vital that the first thing a family does is begin the process of obtaining a death certificate. This process is usually set into motion by the presiding physician or funeral director, however, it is still important that the family ensures that this process is smoothly initiated to avoid any future hindrances or delays. Death certificates are typically not the thing that people learn more about until pressing forces and inaccuracies in the certification force the family to understand the process better. When this happens, a family must do difficult backtracking, which is why it is important that a family understands the general importance and process of death certification before the death even occurs. This level of preparation can ease the entire process and allow more time for families to prioritize other things after the death of a loved one.
Death certificates are essential pieces of legal documentation, also known as vital records. Death certificates not only mark the date of death of an individual, but they also mark the cause, time, and location of the death. Both a funeral director and medical physician have to complete the death certificate. Death certificates are used not only to mark the death of an individual, but are also used by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track mortality and society changes and trends. On a more applicable and personal level, a family needs a certificate of death to close their loved one’s accounts and obtain any benefits. Furthermore, a family can use death certificates to track important family information such as genealogy. It is important that a family obtains several copies of the death certificate to finish all business and have backups in case one is lost or misplaced. Because death certificates hold such great importance to an individual, family, and society, it is critical that all information on a death certificate is verifiably accurate.
Recent studies have shown that nearly 1/3 of death certificates have incorrect causes of death listed on them. While these mistakes can seem trivial after the death of a loved one, they can actually have quite detrimental effects. Incorrect cause of death is not the only inaccuracy that can appear on a death certificate. Mistakes in dates, location, and spelling are also common on death certificates and can hold negative consequences in the future. This is why it is imperative that family members are diligent after the death of a loved one and check the certificate for any inaccuracies. By taking a small amount of time to verify all information on the certificate, a family can save time and hassle in the future.
Because mistakes are often made on a death certificate, a family should work to fix those mistakes in a timely manner. Amending information on a death certificate does not need to be stressful task to undertake, the family just needs foremost to understand what their deadlines are. Death certificates can only be amended in the state that the loved one died in, and different states have their own deadlines and sets of rules as to how and when something can be amended on a death certificate. A family must be aware of these rules. If the family is amending the death certificate within the state specified period of time, the process is considerably easier. The family can often contact the funeral director in charge of the certification and the director will take care of the amending process. If this is not the case, the family can contact the local vital records office and the office will direct them how to proceed from there. Before contacting anyone about amending the inaccuracy on the document, the family needs to obtain verifiable records that prove the inaccuracy as false information. After proper records are obtained, the family can move forward in amending the mistake. Mistakes in a death certificate do not need to be seen as daunting and final, instead they can be fixed quickly and easily if the proper steps are taken.
Death certificates are important documentation that can often be swept aside after the death of a loved one. Families can quickly become overwhelmed by the extent of their to-do list, but they do not need to be overwhelmed by a death certificate. The majority of the process of obtaining a death certificate is overseen by the funeral director and medical physician, but it is just important that everything on the death certificate is double checked by the family member in case information needs to be amended. As important as the document is, families do not need to be threatened by a death certificate in any way, and the process of obtaining or amending one can be easily understood to simplify the process.
Blog Resources
https://blog.vitalchek.com/death-certificates/truth-behind-death-certificates-need-know/
https://blog.vitalchek.com/tag/wrong-information-on-death-certificate/
https://legalbeagle.com/7528039-change-error-death-certificate.html
http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/deaths/Pages/corrections.htm
https://connectingdirectors.com/53879-incorrect-death-certificates