Death Certificates, Privacy, and Wisconsin

One of the first things to do when a loved one dies is to request copies of the death certificate. This is usually done by the funeral home, but if you are doing things on your own, you can make the request to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Death certificates will commonly be requested for:

• filing a claim for life insurance;
• transferring non-probate assets (IRAs, 401ks, etc.);
• closing cell phone and other utilities; and
• closing social media accounts.

Keep in mind that each entity will likely want an issued certificate for its file. You'll need to order more than one.

On a personal note, I find it troubling that the death certificate calls out the specific cause of a person's death. It strikes me as odd that in our current culture of privacy and data sophistication that these causes are not coded. Why does the cashier and US Cellular need to know the cause of death? There are some things loved ones might wish to keep private.

Remember, a blog is not a legal opinion. Please seek advice from an attorney in your state, specific to your situation.