My mother in law passed away at home in her sleep without a known cause. Police came and filed a report, someone took her body away (coroner or medical examiner). But they were so busy maybe cause of covid that they didn’t create a death certificate. Now three weeks later we don’t have a death certificate and are having a hard time getting one. She was 89 years old and didn’t have a regular doctor and her heart specialists says they don’t issue one if they hadn’t seen her lately. Her body is stored away and can’t be cremated until we have a certificate. What can we do?
This sounds ghastly, but I hope they haven't forgotten her because they're overrun with Covid cases. My mother is on hospice care, and I've instructed the nurse to write Mom's full name and my phone number on her arm with a Sharpie to prevent her body from being misplaced or misidentified. I can't find a mortuary here in Southern California that will agree to take her body when she dies, so if she ends up in a medical examiner's office, or worse, in a refrigerated truck, I want her to be identifiable.
I can't believe the world has come to this.
I think the county records office is where you would order copies directly. Check their web site. Try googling ________ county death certificate.
Meanwhile there is no hurry in anyone asking you for this certificate. If you reply that this is still a coroner's case, and body is not released, no certificates yet, all entities will understand.
Has anyone in the family asked the Police, Coronor's Office or Medical Examiner for assistance?
My mother died 4 weeks ago and we were told that it would take 4-6 weeks to get a death certificate because of the pandemic.
I am in Ohio and we did not have to wait for the cremation because Mom died in hospital. It did take nearly 2 weeks for the cremation and another 2 weeks for burial, everyone is backed up.
Please speak to a funeral director. They will help you.
Ask the funeral home who they sent that form to. That is the person that they are recognizing as next of kin.
Not just anyone can deal with this, so you have to find out who they are dealing with and speak with that person.
In AZ they will only hold the body so long before they deal with it. Your medical examiner should be able to direct you in the legality of your local protocols.
Your husband is the best chance of getting information as he is her legal next of kin with any siblings, as long as her parents are no longer living.
I am so sorry for your family's loss. May God bless you all with grieving mercies and comfort during this difficult time.