Can a notary help with copies of a death certificate?
Serving as a pre-planning advisor in the funeral industry AND as a mobile notary on the side, i’ve been asked several times whether death certificate copies can be notarized and used as official copies of the record.
No, they can not. In Florida, notaries can certify copies of some documents as long as the notary either personally makes the photocopy or supervises the document custodian as they make the copy. Florida Notaries may not certify copies of vital records or public records (such as birth, death, and marriage certificates).
What are Death Certificates needed for?
There are two versions of the death certificate: Long form (lists the cause of death) and short form (does not list the cause of death). Some places – like life insurance carriers – will need the long form. Others, to comply with HIPAA laws (protection of health information), will not be able to accept the long form. So you’ll likely need a mixture of both. The cost of death certificates can vary by county.
When we meet for a consultation on final arrangements one of the resources you’ll receive is a death certificate planning worksheet to help you determine how many might be needed. Learn more about consultations for final arrangement pre-planning.
