What Information Do I Need for a Death Certificate?

Whether you are working with a funeral director or filing a death certificate yourself, there are a number of key pieces of information required. This includes the person’s:

• Full name 
• Address
• Marital status
• Surviving spouse’s name 
• Father’s name
• Mother’s maiden name
• Education level
• Social Security number 
• Veteran’s discharge or claim number 
• Date and time of death
• Place of death
• Cause of death 
• Preferred form of disposition 
• Place of burial or disposition 
• Name, address and phone number of certifying physician
• Name, address and phone number of person with the right to control disposition 

This information will aid in the creation of a comprehensive record of the death, which may later be used for statistical purposes by the state, so it is important to include as much accurate information as possible. 

In addition to the above, you will need the signature of the last physician who was responsible for the care of your loved one. Other details can vary by state. If you are uncertain of what information needs to be included, you can ask the town or county clerk or the funeral director who is assisting with final arrangements for guidance.