Death Certificate Information Form

Certified copies of the death certificate are legal documents issued through city and county Health Departments and for which the Commonwealth of Virginia assesses a fee.

Because death certificates are legal documents, it is extremely important that you provide us with the correct information when we prepare the original certificate. Please note that photocopies without the raised seal from the issuing clerk's office are not accepted as legal documents.

After the original death certificate has been signed by the attending physician or medical examiner and completed by the funeral home, it is filed with the local health department. Currently, certified death certificates can only be issued by the health department in the city or county where the death occurred. Virginia limits issuance of death certificates to immediate family members or legal representatives. The statewide fee for certified copies of death certificates is $12 for each copy.

Death Certificate Copies

During the funeral arrangement conference, we will ask you how many certified copies of the death certificate you will need. As part of our service, we will obtain and pay for these certified copies on your behalf. Although we try to obtain certified copies prior to he completion of the funeral service, this is not always possible, especially if the that occurs out-of-town or the cause of death is pending, waiting post-mortem examination results. If the family needs additional certified copies, they must be obtained from the issuing health department. The funeral home does not maintain a copy of the death certificate.

Some Purposes for Which Death Certificates are Needed

• Life Insurance
• Pension, IRA and Other Benefits
• Accounts at Banks and Credit Unions
• Stocks and Bonds
• Title and Deeds to Property
• Vehicle Registration and Title Changes
• Attorneys and CPAs
• Home Mortgages
• Other Insurance (Credit Card, Automobile)

This form is available for you to download, here:

• » Death Certificate Information Form

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