Who usually issues a death certificate?

A death certificate is officially issued by the state health department or local vital records office. This entity is responsible for maintaining vital records, which include birth and death certificates, and ensures that the data included follows the regulations established by law. The death certificate serves as a vital legal document that records the fact of a person's death, the cause of death, and other important identifying information.

While the funeral home may assist in the preparation of the death certificate and may gather necessary information from the family, it does not have the authority to issue the document itself. Similarly, the coroner's office plays a critical role in determining the cause of death, especially in cases of suspicious deaths, but it is the vital records office or the state health department that officially issues the death certificate after all relevant information has been compiled and validated. The deceased's family is involved in the process but does not hold the power to issue the certificate; rather, they provide information needed for its completion.