death certificate

noun

: an official document that gives information about a person's death (such as when and how the death happened)

Examples of death certificate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Based on death certificate records, Forest Lawn was listed for cremation and Simonet Funeral Home in Oak Park Heights was listed for funeral services, the criminal complaint said. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026

Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on the driver's cause of death. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 May 2026

Us Weekly was first to report the contents of the death certificate. —Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026

His sudden death was caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Brazilian news service NSC Total reported Monday, after obtaining the death certificate. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 May 2026

Legal Definition

death certificate

noun

: a document setting forth information (as age, occupation, and place of birth) relating to a dead person and including a doctor's certification of the cause of death

Note: Death certificates are issued by a particular public official, as a city or town clerk. A death certificate is required to document a person's death for certain purposes, as to file an estate tax return or to probate an estate.