Published: 05/18/2024By: Claire Young
When someone dies there is a documentation of that death, which is known as the death certificate. While the grieving process can be daunting without the paperwork, death certificates are important and you need to get one from the funeral home where the wake and funeral were held. Failing to do so can result in complications with the transfer of assets and other proceeds from a will or trust.
So, how long does it take to get death certificates from a funeral home? On average, it takes between 3-12 days to get a death certificate but this will vary based on the state. For example, death certificates in Ohio are issued on the same day. While the waiting process can be confusing, we have your back. Read on to learn more about how long it takes to get a death certificate from a funeral home.
What Is a Death Certificate?
A death certificate is a legal document that’s issued when someone passes away. When they die, medical professionals will issue the document, or it can be registered by a civil registration office if the person did not die under supervised medical care.
These certificates are necessary in order for the transfer of assets to go smoothly. Without a death certificate family members might even have trouble having a wake, funeral, and burial for their loved ones.
While death certificates might not be something you want to receive, the process for getting one isn’t too complicated. Typically, you can get a copy from state offices and the funeral home where you’re having the wake and funeral can help.
What Information Is Included on a Death Certificate?
Death certificates contain a wealth of information about the deceased. You’ll find that these certificates include information about how the person died, the location where they died, and the exact time of death.
Medical practitioners or coroners will have to include specific details about this information and failure to do so is a crime. Additionally, if medical professionals or coroners fail to produce a death certificate in a reasonable amount of time it can be a crime.
Is a Death Certificate a Public Record?
Death certificates can be considered public records, but this depends on the state. For example, some states will allow you to view a death certificate regardless of your relationship with the deceased. If you use the right tools you can find anyone’s death certificate in that state.
On the other hand, some states won’t allow you to find a death certificate unless you have a close relationship with the deceased. Usually, you have to be a relative like a spouse, child, or parent. That said, some exceptions may apply.
What Do You Need to Get a Death Certificate?
In states where it’s not a public record, you’ll have to provide some information if you want to view the document. This information may vary slightly depending on the state but you shouldn’t have too many issues producing this information if you were close with the deceased.
A good rule of thumb to follow is that you should know the following:
- The legal names of the deceased’s mother and father
- A reason for your request
- The full name, sex, and location where the person died – this is often down to the time and exact cause of death
- Your contact information
- Legal documentation that states you can access this information if you’re not related to the deceased
- How do you know the deceased; if you had a relationship with them
You may need some or all of this information depending on the state. For this reason, we recommend knowing all of it to be prepared.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from a Funeral Home?
The amount of time it takes to get a death certificate from a funeral home depends on the state. For example, it can take 7-10 business days in Mississippi, but you can get the death certificate on the same day in Michigan or Kentucky. For this reason, you have to confirm how long it will take in your specific state. The good news is that most funeral homes will know this information and notify you about how long it will take to get the documents.
That said, if we had to give you an average we would say to wait about 48 to 72 hours from the time of death. This gives medical staff and the coroner time to fill out their reports. It also allows time for state approval.
3 Ways to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate
When you’re looking for a copy of a death certificate you have a few options. You can use a third-party tool, like our people search tool, or request the information from the state where the death occurred. Additionally, you can work with the funeral home if you don’t mind waiting for them to complete your request.
That said, we always recommend starting with USPeopleSearch first.
1. USPeopleSearch
We always recommend working with our people search tool when you need to find a death certificate. As long as you’re in a state where the death certificate is a public record, you can use our search tool to find it. What’s more, getting started is easy.
All you have to do is enter someone’s first and last name, address, and state to begin your search. Then, let us do the rest, and if we find any matches we’ll include it within the full report.
Aside from finding information about death certificates, our full report can also help you find other information. In fact, with USPeopleSearch we can help you find anything that’s a public record. Some additional information you can find includes:
- Court records
- Criminal records
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Addresses
- Contact information of people related to the deceased
Ultimately, you can find anything that’s publicly available when you search with USPeopleSearch. Just make sure death certificates are a public record in your state before you get started.
2. The State or County Where Someone Passed Away
When looking for a death certificate the next best place to start is the state or county where they passed away. If the person died in the United States you shouldn’t have any problems finding their death certificate if it’s public information. That said, if it’s not public information you won’t be able to access their death certificate unless you’re close to them or unless enough time has passed; the amount of time varies based on the state.
When going this route you have a few options. First and foremost, you can try searching online through public databases. These can be hard to work with, so if you plan on going online anyway you might as well use our people search tool.
That said, you can also go to the place that holds the copies of death certificates. You can request access in person, and if you’re in the right place the clerk will provide you with a copy of the certificate. Again, make sure death certificates are public records where you are before you commit to this plan. Otherwise, you can waste time driving down there.
3. The Funeral Home
Funeral homes may also keep copies of death certificates. However, they might not have a copy of everyone’s certificate depending on when the person died. If you’re a family member the funeral home can help you right after someone dies. On the other hand, if you’re someone who doesn’t know the deceased a funeral home will likely give you a hard time or at least ask a few questions.
That said, it’s worth a shot if you don’t have any other options. Make sure you come prepared and know some information about the deceased if you plan on going the funeral home route. It will make your life a lot easier.
Get a Copy of the Death Certificate You Need Today
When you need a copy of a death certificate you can always request one from the state or funeral home where the death occurred. However, this can take time, anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks.
For this reason, if you know that a death certificate is a public record in the state you’re searching for we recommend using our people search tool instead. It can provide you with a death certificate, along with any other information that’s publicly available.
Ultimately, we can help you find what you’re looking for and cut your search time in half. Still, all of the options we covered are viable, but it all comes down to whether or not the state you’re requiring information from allows death certificates to be viewed by the public.
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