How Many Death Certificates Do We Need?

← Memorial Resources · By Rock Pifer · Last reviewed November 2026

It's one of those things nobody tells you about until you need it.

After someone dies, almost every company, bank, and government office will ask for the same piece of paper: a certified copy of the death certificate.

Not a photocopy. A certified copy, with the official seal.

So the question comes up early: how many do we need?

What Is a Death Certificate?

A death certificate is the official legal record that a person has died. It lists their name, the date and place of death, the cause of death, and other basic information.

A doctor, medical examiner, or coroner fills in the medical part. In most cases, the funeral home or cremation provider files the certificate with the state for you.

Once it's filed, certified copies can be ordered.

Who Orders the Copies?

Most families order them through the funeral home or cremation provider. They'll usually ask you how many you want while you're making the arrangements.

If you need more later, you can order them from your state's vital records office, usually for a fee.

Ask the funeral director what each copy costs, so you can decide how many to order the first time.

What Will You Need Them For?

Here are some of the places that often ask for a certified copy:

Banks and credit unions
Life insurance companies
Pension plans and retirement accounts
The deceased person's employer
Veterans benefits
Selling or transferring a house, land, or a vehicle
Closing credit cards and loans
Settling the estate or a will
Stocks, bonds, and investment accounts

Some places will look at a certified copy and hand it back. Others will keep it.

So How Many Should We Get?

There's no one right number. It depends on how many accounts and pieces of property the person had.

A simple way to figure it out is to sit down and make a list. Count the banks, insurance policies, retirement accounts, vehicles, and property. Then add a couple extra.

A person with one bank account and a small life insurance policy may need only a few. A person with property, investments, and several accounts may need many more.

It's usually easier to order a few extra at the start than to order more later.

Before You Hand One Over, Ask

When an office asks for a death certificate, ask them:

"Do you need to keep it, or can you look at it and give it back?"

Many places only need to see it. Asking that one question can save you money and time.

Keep Them Together

Put the certified copies in one envelope or folder, and keep it somewhere safe. When you hand one over, write down who you gave it to and the date.

It's a small thing.

But in the weeks after a death, when there's a lot to keep track of, small things help.