According to Michael Scarpaci, the manager of Scarpaci funeral home in Staten Island, a death certificate is a document that states the location of death, cause of death, time of death and other personal information about the person who has died. It is mandatory in New York to register the death with the State Department of Health and Vital Statistics at the earliest. You can get the copies of the death certificate from the vital records office.
Here are the top reasons by Michael Scarpaci why do you need a death certificate.
Although there are several reasons why do you need to obtain a death certificate, mostly it is used as a proof of death for legal purposes. Some of the common reasons include:
- Veterans benefits
- Insurance policies
- Property ownership
- Social Security Administration
- Testament and Last Will
- Union benefits
- Pension plans
- Treasury Bills
- Individual Retirement Account
- Safe deposit box
- Bonds, stocks, or brokerage accounts
- The beneficiary of a savings account
- Internal Revenue Service
- Post office
People who are eligible to receive death certificates include:
- Children
- Parents
- Spouses
- Grandchildren
- Legal guardians
- Siblings
- State and Federal agencies for legal purposes
Typically, there are three ways you can obtain certified copies of a death certificate:
- You can get it through the funeral home that manages the funeral or memorial service arrangements.
- With the help of the Department of Health’s Vital Statistics and Registry website.
- From the local registrar at the municipality where the death occurred.
Currently, the State’s Registrar charge $25 for the first copy, while $2 for each additional copy. The state registrar will issue the death certificates and directly send them to the funeral home through the mail.
