Death Certificate - Not original

[Vlad401k]

We received a distribution request from a beneficiary. The death certificate is a copy and not original and says: "This is not an original death certificate" in large letters across the whole page. Doesn't seem like this would be an acceptable proof of death. What do you think?

[GMK]

If your established procedure is to require an original certificate (or if the plan has established such a rule), then you probably should request an original from the beneficiary (treat all participants equally).

Otherwise, the plan administrator decides if the death is adequately proven, for example, based on corroborating information, like an on-line obituary.

[mbozek]

It depends on your practice. Original death certificates are rarely required - Its needed to probate a will, when transferring US savings bonds to a new owner and submitting a LI policy. Most brokerages and IRA custodians will accept a copy of a death certificate.

[david rigby]

The reason some admin procedures specify an original certificate is that it (probably) satisfies the issue of what to do next if you suspect fraud.

[Peter Gulia]

Is the copy at least a certified copy?

If so, who certified it as a true copy of the original?

How much money or insurance supports the certifier's certificate?

[jpod]

A non-certified copy of the death certificant coupled with a copy of a newspaper obituary, either hard or one printed out on-line, should be sufficient.