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The Necessity of Death Certificates
Death certificates are more than a matter of public recordkeeping. In many cases, public institutions and private corporations will require a copy of the deceased person’s death certificate before transferring control of the decedent’s assets to their loved ones.
You might need a death certificate to:
- Arrange a funeral, burial, or cremation
- Transfer control of a real property or motor vehicle to the decedent’s heirs
- Transfer control of a financial account to the account holder’s designated beneficiaries
- File an insurance claim
- File a petition to receive continuing Medicaid benefits or pension payments
- Notify a creditor or mortgage lender of the decedent’s death
While the paperwork required to obtain a copy of a California death certificate is not especially difficult to fill out and understand, the state has additional requirements that must be met before it will release a copy of the decedent’s records. In some cases, failing to understand and meet these requirements could delay probate proceedings or trust fulfillment, preventing heirs from receiving their inheritances.
