Certified death certificates are legal documents provided by the Clark County Health District. It is extremely important that the information provided for the certificate is accurate. Each state’s requirements for information needed may vary. A death certificate must be completed in the state where the death occurs. It is helpful to bring the following documents to the arrangement conference to verify the information needed to complete the death certificate:

• Social Security card or legal document verifying the social security number
• Current passport
• Driver’s license or identification card
• Birth certificate (for date of birth, place of birth and parents’ full names, including mother’s maiden name)
• Military discharge (DD-214)

We may ask you to bring in additional information based on services you are requesting. You will be asked to sign and approve the accuracy and completeness of the death certificate information. Any changes or modifications to the death certificate, once filed, will require an affidavit from Carson City, possibly a court order and additional charges. Please note that any errors on death certificates that are based on information provided to the funeral home by the family will be billed to the family.

Many companies, institutions and organizations ask for or require a certified death certificate. Please check with each entity to determine if an original is required or if a copy is sufficient. Below is a list of some common needs for certified death certificates:

• Social Security Administration (depending on the situation)
• Insurance policies and claims
• Accounts at financial or banking institutions
• Pension, retirement funds, union benefits
• Home mortgages
• Stocks, bonds, investments
• Titles and deeds to property
• Vehicle registration and title changes
• CPA or attorney
• One for your own records

If the deceased is a veteran, the Health District currently provides one death certificate free of charge. Please be sure to bring in a copy of the military discharge (DD-214).

When a death occurs, certified death certificates must be prepared, signed by the doctor with an appropriate cause of death, filed and then processed by the Health Department. This process begins after the family completes and finalizes arrangements, including payment, with an arrangement director at the mortuary. In many cases, it can take up to 10 working days from the time the death certificate is filed with the Health Department to obtain certified copies of the death certificate.

Obtaining certified death certificates may take longer when:

• There are delays in confirming or locating the doctor who will sign the certificate
• The doctor is not available or is delayed in signing the certificate
• The coroner’s office is involved and toxicology or other tests are being done in conjunction with an investigation or autopsy. Additional time for test results may be needed before cause of death can be determined.
• The Health Department, coroner's office or doctor's offices are closed due to holidays

At the time arrangements are made with Palm Mortuary, we will discuss with you how to obtain certified death certificates from the Health Department. If you are the legal next-of-kin and the person making the arrangements, there are several ways to obtain the death certificates:

• You will designate yourself or one other person to pick the certificates up directly from Palm Mortuary. Please note: Palm Mortuary will only release death certificates to the person you specifically designate.
• If death certificates are not picked up at one of our locations, they can be mailed. There is a charge for mailing certified death certificates as stated on our General Price List. Mailing of these documents will be done by the courier of Palm’s choosing. While all attempts will be made for next day delivery, this is not guaranteed or implied as some areas do not offer next day availability. An adult signature will be required at the time of delivery and we cannot deliver to P.O. boxes, only physical addresses.
• You may pay for and pick up death certificates directly from the Clark County Health District, 625 Shadow Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89106; phone 702-759-1010. They will require a form to be completed and ID and payment received prior to providing certified death certificates. Please call ahead to ensure they will be available. Currently, the Health Department charges $20 for each death certificate although this is subject to change at any time.

You may order additional certificates directly from the health department at the above address on a walk-in basis or by mail for a charge of $20.00 each. You will need to supply a copy of your ID and provide a money order payable to SNHD, as they do not accept personal checks. They will ask for an application form to be completed.

If you need a death certificate for a death that occurred many years ago, you may obtain one through the State of Nevada Carson City Vital Records. Their website for ordering death certificates is www.vitalrec.com and their phone number is 775-684-4242.