How many certified death certificates do I really need? Getting conflicting answers.

I'm sorry for your loss.. barely time to mourn before the "business" responsibilities need addressing. My stepFIL was a ward of the county. When he passed, we received 1 scant death certificate from his guardian. Many months later an investment he had surfaced and that company's attorney wouldn't release anything to anyone without an original copy of the DC. So, as others have suggested, get more than you think now. May you have peace in your heart as your celebrate your dad's life!

My Funeral director supplied 10, one of those they sent to Social Security. I sent an original to Dads employer to stop Moms pension and benefits. I think Probate got one. Mom had no credit cards. Like said, some places took copies or I scanned it and emailed it. I still have most of the copies.

If you send any originals, do it certified mail. Dads employer called me saying they never received it. I confirmed the address on the envelope, it was correct. Told them it was never returned to me as undeliverable so they had it somewhere. Probably on someone's desk. After about 3 calls to me I told the last person I was not sending another original and why. She agreed, it was probably laying on someone's desk or filed away without scanning it into the system. Never heard from them again. But if I had certified it, I would have had proof it was received.

I'm sorry for your loss; it seems as though you had a good, healthy and reciprocal relationship that benefited both of you, so you hopefully have some good memories from the challenging last days of life.

If you want to be more accurate, identify all who might need to be notified, including banks, charge account holders, stocks or other investments, any entity with which he had an account or an obligation, insurance companies, etc. I ordered 15, but haven't had to use them except for transfer of assets, trust establishment, and other similar issues.

Thus far, stock transfers, vacant house insurance and similar legal/financial issues are the assets requiring the Death Certificates, as well as a host of other documents.

Get more than you think you will need.
Never can tell a year from now you might need a copy for some reason. Much easier to get them now than later.
I found a Savings Bond in my Husbands name and I will have to send in a death certificate to cash it..so ya just never know!
I got 10 or 12 and I still have several.

Just an FYI - It never hurts to hold on to any extras you may have, because my brother was listed as secondary POA for my mother I had to produce his death certificate 12 years after the fact.

We were told to get a dozen, also. I think Dh used half of them. It really depends on the situation of the deceased--how many businesses they had, how many properties, etc. It's not very expensive to get them, so get more than you think you'll need so you're not wasting time running to get more.

I am so sorry for your loss. May God bless you with grieving mercies and comfort during this difficult time.

It depends on what you have to deal with. Does he have accounts that only he was on? Are there CDs or other investments that you will deal with? Are there any bills in his name?

Those are the situations that require a death certificate and determine how many you will need.

I have always been told that you should get a dozen if there are multiple accounts and such to be handled.

If he had no bills, no accounts, no investments than you probably would be fine with a half dozen.

I was told to get a dozen copies. I've used exactly one.

Most people who need the certificate make a copy and give it back to you. Only Charles Schwab kept the one I gave them.

Get three, and you'll be fine.