certificate of death
Certificate of death, or death certificate, is an official legal document provided by a government recognizing that a person has died. A certificate of death contains essential information about a deceased person including their cause of death, date, and other statistics necessary for government agency documentation. Localities differ on what information must be present, but generally adhere to the U.S. Standard Certificate of Death. States provide death certificates typically through their Vital Records offices. Death certificates are only provided to certain family members including, spouses, siblings, and children. However, anyone can obtain a death certificate once it becomes public record, which varies by state. A death certificate also serves as legal proof in court. Death certificates can be useful to resolve disputes with life insurance, probate, or administration of the decedent’s estate.
For more information on certificates of death in each state, visit the National Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records.
[Last reviewed in March of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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