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Accurate completion of the death certificate is a statutory responsibility with significant legal and public health implications. Best practice dictates that the funeral director or designated professional verify details directly with the informant (often the next of kin) during the arrangement conference and cross-check those details with official documents when available—such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, military discharge papers (DD-214), or passports. Obituaries are not legal records and may contain honorific language, nicknames, or errors; driver’s licenses can be outdated and lack critical fields (e.g., parents’ names, education, or complete birthplace). Delaying information gathering increases the risk of errors, omissions, and filing delays that can impede disposition permits, insurance claims, and estate matters. Establishing the informant’s legal authority, confirming spellings and dates, and documenting the process in the case file enhances accuracy and audit readiness. Professional practice also includes timely coordination with the certifying physician, medical examiner, or coroner and monitoring the certificate’s electronic workflow to ensure final registration prior to disposition.