All About Death Certificates

Cremations are among the cremation services offered in Phoenix, AZ. After our loved ones have been cremated, we will have the daunting task of closing the book on their lives. One of the most important documents that we will need to be able to do that is a death certificate (certified).

A death certificate begins to get generated as soon as our loved one dies. The timeline for completing the process of getting a death certificate averages from three to ten days after our loved one has died.

Once our loved one is transported to the funeral home or crematory, the funeral director will begin the process of registering the death with the state. This will include date of birth and other personal information we provide. The funeral director will also ensure that the paperwork is completed with the date and time of death, cause of death, and signed by a medical professional.

The funeral director then registers the death with the state. The state’s vital records office issues a death certificate that contains all the vital information about our loved one. The death certificate is the official document that will be needed to take care of our loved one’s affairs.

A death certificate is considered the only legal proof of death of our loved one. Without a death certificate, we will be unable to do the important things that need to be done in order to handle our loved one’s estate.

These things may include claiming benefits and insurance, claiming social security benefits, transferring assets to our control, closing out accounts, selling property, and remarrying in the future (to prove that a previous spouse has died).

The United States legally requires that deaths of American citizens be registered. Beyond our own personal needs for death certificates, some state and federal government agencies use the data from vital records offices to look at nationwide trends for causes of death, ages of those who have died, and locations of death, as well as other pertinent data.

From the death records, government officials can identify needs for public policy changes or additions, and they can get fine-tune, on a local level, policy implementations in areas where it is clear that additions or changes are needed.

Another very important reason for deaths to be registered is for investigation. If the manner in which a person died seems odd or questionable (foul play) or familiar (serial killers), forensic scientists can use the data in the vital records office to piece together information that can help the investigation team find the perpetrator.

When you meet with the funeral director, they will ask how many copies of the death certificate you will need. For most families, 20 to 25 will be enough (if you need more, the funeral director can obtain those for you). If your loved one left a large estate with a lot of assets, you will need more. Your funeral director can guide you with determining the final number of death certificates that will be required for your particular circumstances.

The average amount of time that it takes to receive a death certificate is 7-10 business days. Some states issue them in less time and some states take a little longer to issue them.

For more information about death certificates and cremation services provided in Phoenix, AZ, our compassionate and experienced team at Simply Cremation & Funeral Arrangements is here to help. You can come to our funeral home at 16952 W. Bell Rd., #303, Surprise, AZ, 85374, or you can contact us today at (623) 975-9393.