How do you get a copy of someones death certificate?
A death certificate is obtained at the vital statistics office in the county of death. You must be related to the decedent to get their death certificate.
Attorney Tom Olsen: Alan, you're on WDBO, go ahead.
Alan: Hey, good morning. My question is, how do I get a copy of somebody's death certificate? Is it online or what's the process?
Attorney Tom Olsen: Alan, you get a death certificate at the Vital Statistics Office in the county of death. If somebody died in Orange County you're going to Orange County Vital Statistics. They're going to make you fill out a form and they're going to make you state what your relationship to that person is. I think if you put, "Hey, he's a stranger. I don't know him. He's not related to me," I don't think they're going to give it to you.
Attorney Chris Merrill: I agree. I think you have to show some relation to that person and they will give it to you.
Attorney Tom Olsen: I can tell you this, Alan, that occasionally we at the Olsen Law Group in Orlando, we need to get a copy of a death certificate from somebody that's clearly not related to us. They will give it to us as an attorney requesting it, but I think otherwise you have to have some relationship to the deceased person to get a copy of their death certificate.
Attorney Chris Merrill: As long as you do exactly what Tom said, though, it's Vital Statistics Office of any county where the person passed away.
Alan: Excellent. If they're listed on the Lady Bird deed as the next owner, that would probably be sufficient backup for them to [crosstalk] death certificate?
Attorney Tom Olsen: I tell you what, Alan, that's a great question, but the answer is no. Alan, this may be a situation that if we're talking about you, you may need to come to us or another attorney to get that death certificate for you, Alan. Great question.
Alan: Thank you all very much.
Tom: All right. That opens up lines for your legal questions at (844) 580-9326. Chrissy, he is reminding me of a client I had called me this past week and it was about a Lady Bird deed.
Attorney Chris Merrill: Tell me.
Attorney Tom Olsen: Let's just say the client's name was Greg. We did a Lady Bird deed for Greg that states that when he passes away, his home is going to his girlfriend automatically, no probate required, through a Lady Bird deed. Now, Greg has passed away. Greg's daughter is very upset that this house is going to Greg's girlfriend, not to Greg's daughter. Based on that, the girlfriend is calling me up and saying, "Tom, the girlfriend won't give me a copy of the death certificate-"
Attorney Chris Merrill: Daughter.
Attorney Tom Olsen: "-the daughter will not give me a copy of the death certificate so that I, the girlfriend can record it in the public records, showing that this house now belongs to me." I said, "Look, yes, you can't get it. You're the girlfriend of Greg, but that doesn't get you a death certificate of Greg at the Vital Statistics Office, but yes, you can go through Olsen Law Group. We'll get one for you and record it for you.