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

According to his official death certificate obtained by PEOPLE, The Middle alum’s death was a result of malignant neoplasm of the bladder, better known as bladder cancer. —Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026

According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ and People, his cause of death was an acute upper gastrointestinal bleed, caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis, esophageal varices and severe metabolic acidosis. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026

Prosecutors are working to get a death certificate for her after her husband’s conviction. —Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025

Seven months later, Evangelina Perez got her mother’s death certificate from the state of Texas. —Kaley Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025

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.