If you’ve recently lost a loved one, the burden of planning a funeral and managing their estate can be challenging, especially as you’re dealing with your grief. One important aspect of a loved one passing is obtaining a death certificate. The guide below explains how to obtain one and why you need it.

What Is the Purpose of a Death Certificate?

Death certificates serve both a statistical and practical function. On a societal level, registering the age and cause of death helps the National Center for Health Statistics track mortality information.

From a practical standpoint, you’ll need a death certificate to prove that your loved one has passed on. This information is required when you’re closing a bank account, stopping social security payments, canceling credit cards, and shutting off utilities.

In estate and insurance cases, you’ll need an official certificate, but in most other scenarios, a copy will suffice. This legal procedure ensures that people can’t continue to claim social security benefits from a deceased individual or make real estate transactions while the individual is still alive.

How Do You Obtain a Death Certificate?

Many funeral homes will handle the death certificate for you. The certificate must be signed by an attending or primary physician, medical examiner, or coroner, and the certificate must be filed within 72 hours of the death. If your funeral director is handling the death certificate, you’ll need to provide them with information like their name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address.

If you’re looking for a funeral home with caring, compassionate staff in Dardanelle, AR, Cornwell Funeral Home can support you through this difficult time. Since 1898, this locally owned business has provided services like death certificates, cremations, funeral services, and funeral preplanning to citizens of Yell County. To learn more about their offerings, visit their website or call (479) 229-2524.