Information and papers

A checklist of the facts the death certificate asks for, marked known, being found or unknown, and where each paper is and who has it. The values themselves go to the funeral director, not into this browser.

For a first pass, both sheets are essential: the funeral director cannot file the death certificate without the facts, and later steps need the papers. Neither sheet holds the values themselves. You give the Social Security number, birth date and other facts to the funeral director directly; here you record only whether each fact is known and where it comes from (Information and papers).

Facts for the death certificate

The personal items an informant is asked for on the US standard death certificate (Information and papers). Tick an item when the funeral director has it. Record its status and who knows it or which document it comes from; do not type the value.

Documents and where they are

One row per paper (Information and papers). Record where it is and who has it. Never type a Social Security, account or policy number into this sheet.

How to use these sheets

• Facts: status and source, not values. Mark each fact known, being found or unknown, and name the person or document it comes from. Tick it when the funeral director has it.
• Documents: one row per paper. Where it is, who has it now, and which later step needs it. Never type an account, policy or Social Security number.
• The will goes to the executor. Record where it is and who has it; do not read it as funeral instructions.