National Center for Health Statistics 

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director 

Jack R. Anderson, Deputy Director 

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science 

Lawrence H. Cox, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research 

and Methodology

Edward L. Hunter, Associate Director for Planning, Budget,

and Legislation

Michael H. Sadagursky, Associate Director for

Management and Operations

Margot A. Palmer, Director for Information Technology

Phillip R. Beattie, Director for Information Services

Diane M. Makuc, Dr.P.H., Acting Associate Director for

Analysis and Epidemiology

Charles J. Rothwell, Director for Vital Statistics

Jane E. Sisk, Ph.D., Director for Health Care Statistics

Jane F. Gentleman, Ph.D., Director for Health Interview

Statistics

Clifford L. Johnson, Director for Health and Nutrition

Examination Surveys

Division of Vital Statistics 

Charles J. Rothwell, Director 

Robert N. Anderson, Ph.D., Chief, Mortality Statistics 

Branch 
This handbook contains instructions for funeral directors for completing 

filing records of death and fetal death.1 These instructions pertain to the 2

revisions of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Death and the U.S. Standard Re

of Fetal Death and the 1992 revision of the Model State Vital Statistics Act 

Regulations. This handbook is intended to serve as a model that can be adap

by any vital statistics registration area. 

Other handbooks are available as references on preparing and registering de

records: 

+ Physicians’ Handbook on Medical Certification of Death 

+ Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook on Death Registration 

Fetal Death Reporting 

1

Funeral service licensees are known by several titles in the United States, including funeral director, under

mortician, embalmer, mortuary science licensee, and mortuary science practitioner. For the purposes of the 

book, the term ‘‘funeral director ’’ includes all of these titles as they relate to persons who have charge o

disposition of a dead body or fetus and who are responsible for completing and filing death certificates and, in 

States, fetal death reports. 
Acknowledgments 

This publication was prepared by staff from the Division of Vital Statistics, led 

by George Tolson of the Registration Methods Staff (RMS). Donna L. Hoyert, 

Ph.D., from the Mortality Statistics Branch also contributed to this effort. Julia L. 

Kowaleski of RMS reviewed and commented on the contents, and Charles J. 

Rothwell, Director of the Division of Vital Statistics, provided input and review. 

This handbook was edited by Kathy Sedgwick and typeset by Jacqueline M. 

Davis of the Office of Information Services, Information Design and Publishing 

Staff. 

v 
Contents 

Preface .............................................................. iii

Acknowledgments ...................................................... v

Introduction ........................................................... 1

Purpose ............................................................ 1

Importance of death registration and fetal death reporting .................... 1

U.S. Standard Certificates and Report ................................... 2

Confidentiality of vital records ......................................... 4

Funeral director’s responsibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Procedures for handling certificates of death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Certification by physician .......................................... 5

Certification by medical examiner or coroner .......................... 5

Procedures for handling reports of fetal death ............................ 6

Information about disposition of body .................................... 7

Authorization for final disposition of dead body or fetus .......... .......... 7

Form of authorization ....................... ....................... 7

When authorization is required. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Obtaining and using the authorization .................................. 8

Cremation ............................. ............................. 8

Disinterment and reinterment of a dead body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Amending certificates and reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Part I. General Instructions for Completing Certificates and Reports ..... ....... 10

Part II. Completing the Certificate of Death ................................ 12

Items to be completed or verified by the funeral director (items 1–23) .... .... 12

Items to be completed by the medical certifier (items 24–49) ................ 26

Item to be completed by the Registrar (item 50) ............. ............. 27

Additional items to be completed or verified by the funeral director

(items 51–55) .......................... .......................... 27

Part III. Completing the Report of Fetal Death .............................. 32

Items pertaining to the fetus (items 1–9) ................ ................ 32

Items pertaining to the mother (items 10–11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Items pertaining to the father (items 12a–c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Item pertaining to the disposition of the fetus (item 13) .......... .......... 39

vii 
Items pertaining to the medical and health information (items 14–16, 18, and

23–40) ............................ .............................. 42

Appendixes 

A. U.S. Standard Certificate of Death ................ . ................. 45

B. Decedent’s Educational Level Selection Card ............ .............. 52

C. Race and Hispanic Origin Category Selection Cards ......... . .......... 53

D. U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death ................ .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

E. Definitions of Live Birth and Fetal Death.............. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

F. The Vital Statistics Registration System in the United States .............. 57

viii 
Introduction 

Purpose 

This handbook is designed to acquaint funeral directors with the vital registration 

system in the United States and to provide instructions for completing and filing 

records of death and fetal death. Emphasis is directed toward the responsibilities 

of the funeral director in handling these certificates and reports and in obtaining 

proper authorization for final disposition of a dead body. Background information 

is included on the importance of these documents for legal and statistical 

purposes and specific instructions for obtaining the necessary information. 

The funeral director is responsible for filing an accurate and complete death 

certificate with the proper registration official, although State laws vary in 

specific requirements. The current death certificate contains personal information 

about the decedent, medical certification, the signature of the physician or the 

medical examiner or coroner, and information dealing with the disposal of the 

remains. The fetal death report contains information about the fetus and parents, 

the cause of fetal death, and other medical and health information relating to the 

pregnancy and delivery. 

Importance of death registration and fetal death reporting 

The death certificate is a permanent legal record of the fact of death of an 

individual. As a permanent legal record, the certificate is extremely important to 

the decedent’s family. It is also needed for a variety of medical and health-related 

research efforts. 

The death certificate provides important information about: the decedent (such as 

age, sex, race, education, date of death, his or her parents, and, if married, the 

name of the spouse), the circumstances and cause of death, and final disposition. 

This information is used in the application for insurance benefits, settlement of 

pension claims, and transfer of title of real and personal property. The certificate 

is considered to be prima facie evidence of the fact of death. It can therefore be 

introduced in court as evidence when a question about the death arises. As a 

1 
service to the decedent’s family, the funeral director should prepare an accurate 

death record. This responsibility makes the funeral director the anchor of this 

country’s death registration system. 

Statistical data from death certificates are used to identify public health problems 

and measure the results of programs established to alleviate these problems. 

These data are a necessary foundation on which to base effective public health 

programs. Health departments could not perform their duties without such data. 

Mortality statistics are of considerable value to individual physicians and to 

medical science because they can be used to identify disease etiologies and 

evaluate diagnostic techniques. Demographers use mortality statistics in combination with natality statistics to estimate and project population sizes, which are 

important in forecasting and program planning. 

Because statistical data derived from death certificates can be no more accurate 

than the information provided on the certificate, it is very important that all 

persons concerned with the registration of deaths strive not only for complete 

registration but also for accuracy and promptness in reporting these events. 

Furthermore, the usefulness of detailed information is greater than more general 

information. 

The fetal death report is recommended as a legally required statistical report 

designed primarily to collect information for statistical and research purposes. In 

most States, these reports are not maintained in the official files of the State 

health department, and certified copies of these reports are rarely issued. However, in a number of States the fetal death record is a legal certificate. The record, 

whether a certificate or a report, provides valuable health and research data. The 

information is used to study the causes of poor pregnancy outcome. These data 

are also essential in planning and evaluating prenatal care services and obstetrical 

programs. They are also used to examine the consequences of possible environmental and occupational exposures of parents on the fetus. 

U.S. Standard Certificates and Report 

The registration of deaths and fetal deaths is a State function supported by 

individual State laws and regulations. The original records are filed in the States 

and stored in accordance with State practice. Each State has a contract with the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) that allows the Federal Government to use information from the 

State records to produce national vital statistics. This national data program is 

called the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). 

2 
To ensure consistency in the NVSS, NCHS provides leadership and coordination 

in the development of standard certificates and reports to serve as models for use 

by States. These certificates and reports are revised periodically to ensure that the 

data collected relate to current and anticipated needs. In the revision process, 

stakeholders review and evaluate each item on the standard certificate for its 

registration, legal, genealogical, statistical, medical, and research value. Each 

item is evaluated thoroughly with emphasis on answering the following questions: 

+ Is the item needed for legal, research, statistical, or public health programs? 

+ Is the item collectible with reasonable completeness and accuracy? 

+ Is the vital statistics system the best source for this information? 

The associations on the stakeholder panel that recommended the current U.S. 

Standard Certificate of Death included the National Funeral Directors Association, the American Medical Association, the National Association of Medical 

Examiners, the College of American Pathologists, and the American Hospital 

Association. For the U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death, the stakeholder panel 

associations included the National Funeral Directors Association, the American 

Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (Maternal and Child 

Health Affiliate), the American Medical Association, and the American College 

of Nurse Midwives. 

Most State certificates conform closely in content and arrangement to the standard. Minor modifications are sometimes necessary to comply with State laws or 

regulations or to meet specific information needs. Having similar forms promotes 

uniformity of data and comparable national statistics. It also allows the comparison of individual State data with national data and data from other States. 

Uniformity of death certificates among the States also increases their acceptability as legal records. 

Although the death certificates in use in this country differ somewhat from State 

to State, they all contain the following types of information: 

+ Information about the decedent and his or her family. 

+ Information about the disposition of the body. 

+ Certification by the physician, medical examiner or coroner, or some other 

person legally authorized to certify. 

3 
+ Information about the cause of death. 

See ‘‘Appendix A’’ for a copy of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Death. 

The fetal death report is designed primarily to collect information for statistical 

and research purposes. In many States these records are not maintained in the 

official files of the State health department. Most States never issue certified 

copies of these records; the other States issue certified copies very rarely. 

Confidentiality of vital records 

To encourage appropriate access to vital records, NCHS promotes the development of model vital statistics laws concerning confidentiality. State laws and 

supporting regulations define which persons have authorized access to vital 

records. Some States have few restrictions on access to death certificates. However, there are restrictions on access to death certificates in the majority of States. 

Legal safeguards to the confidentiality of vital records have been strengthened 

over time in some States. 

Funeral director’s responsibility 

Funeral directors are responsible for getting the death certificate completed. 

Procedures for handling certificates of death 

In general, their duties are to: 

+ Complete, or have completed, all items on the death certificate. 

+ Obtain the cause-of-death information and certification statement from the 

attending physician or medical examiner or coroner. 

+ Secure the signature of the person pronouncing death on the certificate, and 

review the certificate for completeness and accuracy. 

+ File the certificate with the proper State or local official within the time 

specified in the vital statistics laws of the State. 

+ Notify the medical examiner or coroner of any death that is believed to have 

been due to an accident, suicide, or homicide or to have occurred without 

medical attendance, unless this has already been done by the pronouncing or 

certifying physician or the police. 

+ Obtain and use all necessary permits and other forms associated with the 

death registration system. 

4 
+ Cooperate with State or local registrars concerning queries on certificate 

entries. 

+ Cooperate with pathologists in cases involving postmortem examinations. 

+ Be thoroughly familiar with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the 

vital statistics system. 

+ Call on the local or State office of vital statistics for advice and assistance 

when necessary. 

Certification by physician—The procedure for obtaining the information and 

completing the death certificate varies in different locations. This may be regulated in part by State law and in part by local practice. The funeral director must 

be aware of the laws of the State or jurisdiction in which he or she operates. 

If the death occurred in a hospital or other institution, the institution may assist 

the funeral director in obtaining the information needed to complete the death 

certificate. In some cases, the funeral director will be provided a completed death 

certificate with all or part of the personal information about the decedent and the 

cause-of-death section. It is the responsibility of the funeral director to verify the 

personal information with the family, obtain and enter any information that has 

not been completed, and file the certificate within the statutory time limit. If the 

hospital or institution does not provide a partially completed certificate, the 

funeral director must initiate the process and obtain all required information. 

In some States, when the attending physician (physician in charge of the patient’s 

care for the condition that resulted in death) is not available at the time of death 

to certify to the cause of death, another physician on duty at the hospital or other 

institution may pronounce the decedent legally dead. With the permission of the 

attending physician, the ‘‘pronouncing physician’’ may authorize release of the 

body to the funeral director. In such cases, however, the funeral director must still 

obtain the cause-of-death certification from the attending physician before filing 

the certificate. The certificate must be filed by the funeral director with the 

registration official where the death occurred. This must be done within the time 

limit specified in the laws of the State and prior to removal of the body from the 

State or other disposition of the body. 

Certification by medical examiner or coroner—The medical examiner or coroner 

normally assumes jurisdiction when death occurred without medical attendance; 

when the cause of death is unknown; or when an accident, suicide, or homicide 

5 
has occurred. The funeral director should become familiar with the forms used 

and the practices followed by these medical-legal officers in his or her area. If a 

death appears to be a medical-legal case but was certified by someone other than 

a medical examiner or coroner, the funeral director should notify the medical 

examiner or coroner before filing the death certificate. 

In some jurisdictions, the medical examiner or coroner completes all the medical 

and personal information on the certificate. In such cases, the funeral director 

needs to complete only the information about disposition of the body. In other 

jurisdictions, the medical examiner or coroner completes only the cause-of-death 

and certifying sections and provides certain identifying information, such as 

name, address, race, and sex of the decedent. In such circumstances, the funeral 

director must obtain the remaining personal information. 

Procedures for handling reports of fetal death 

A fetal death is defined as death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction 

from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of 

pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or 

extraction the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as 

beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of 

voluntary muscles. (See ‘‘Appendix D’’ for a copy of the U.S. Standard Report of 

Fetal Death.) 

The responsibility for completing and filing fetal death reports varies from State 

to State. In some States, the responsibility is placed on the hospital or other 

institution if the fetal death occurred there and on the attending physician if the 

fetal death occurred somewhere else. In other States, the funeral director is 

responsible for completing and filing the fetal death report. If the fetal death was 

the result of an accident, suicide, or homicide, the medical examiner or coroner 

must be notified, and he or she must complete the cause of fetal death. 

State laws also differ with regard to the gestational age at which fetal deaths must 

be reported. Some States require the reporting of all fetal deaths regardless of the 

length of gestation. Other States require only that fetal deaths weighing 350 

grams or more or 20 completed weeks of gestation or more be reported. Other 

variations exist as well. 

The funeral director should be familiar with the laws of the State in which he or 

she operates and, if required by law to complete and file these reports, should 

become familiar with the procedures involved. 

6 
The information necessary to complete the fetal death report should be obtained 

from the same persons and in the same manner as for death certificates. The 

hospital or the family should provide the required personal information; the 

attending physician should provide the required medical information; and, if any 

information regarding the disposition of the fetus is required on the form in use 

in a particular State, the funeral director should provide this information. The 

report is to be filed with the registration official where the fetal death occurred 

within the time limit specified in the laws of the State. 

Information about disposition of body 

The death certificate contains certain information about the disposition of the 

body. A facsimile of this portion of the death certificate is shown below. The 

funeral director is to complete all items in this section prior to filing the 

certificate with the appropriate registration official. 

Authorization for final disposition of dead body or fetus 

In most States, the funeral director must secure explicit authorization before he or 

she may remove, bury, cremate, entomb, disinter, reinter, or otherwise dispose of 

a dead body or fetus. 

Form of authorization 

The form of authorization for final disposition varies from State to State. In some 

States, the authorization is issued by the local registrar when a properly completed death certificate or fetal death report is presented. In other States, the 

authorization is issued over the signature of the attending physician or the 

medical examiner or coroner. The signature is obtained at the time the cause-ofdeath and certifier portions of the death certificate or fetal death report are 

completed. Several States require no authorization form for the disposition of the 

dead body or fetus, or they require one only under certain specified circumstances (e.g., when the body is to be removed from the State). 

Still other States require only that the funeral director send a notification to the 

proper registration official indicating that a death or fetal death has occurred and 

7 
that the body or fetus is being disposed of. States that have adopted electronic 

systems to electronically register and file death certificates can also generate 

authorization forms for final dispositions through this electronic death registration process. 

When authorization is required 

In States requiring authorization, it must be obtained prior to: 

+ Removal of the body or fetus from the State. 

+ Burial or entombment of the body or fetus in a grave, crypt, mausoleum, or 

tomb. 

+ Cremation of the body or fetus. 

+ Release of the body or fetus for scientific or educational study. 

+ Final disposal of the body or fetus in any other manner. 

Obtaining and using the authorization 

In all States that require authorization prior to disposition of a dead body or fetus, 

a properly completed death certificate or fetal death report is a prerequisite to 

obtaining such authorization. It is the responsibility of the funeral director to 

know from whom the authorization is to be obtained, to know under what 

circumstances such authorization is required, and to obtain such authorization. 

The authorization accompanies the dead body or fetus to its place of final 

disposition where it is presented to the person in charge of the place of disposition. He or she is then required to return the authorization to the person specified 

by the laws of the State, usually the registration official who issued the authorization. The funeral director should be familiar with State requirements and 

inform the person in charge of the place of disposition where to return the 

authorization. 

If there is no one in charge of the place where the body or fetus is disposed of, it 

is the responsibility of the funeral director to return the authorization to the 

proper official. 

Cremation 

Many States require that an additional authorization be obtained prior to cremation of a dead body or fetus. The rationale for this requirement is to avoid the 

possibility of destroying evidence of foul play and to ensure the proper identification 

8 
of the body before disposition. Normally this authorization is obtained from the 

medical examiner or coroner where the death or fetal death occurred. The funeral 

director should be familiar with any such requirements in his or her State and 

ensure that the authorization is obtained prior to cremation of the body or fetus. 

Disinterment and reinterment of a dead body 

All States require that proper authorization be obtained prior to disinterring and 

reinterring a dead body. Such authorization is normally issued only to a licensed 

funeral director upon application to the State or local registration official. The 

next of kin, a court of law, or other authorized person may execute the application. The authorization for disinterment and reinterment is handled in the same 

manner as an authorization for disposition. In cold weather States, where dead 

bodies may be placed in holding vaults until frozen ground thaws, the funeral 

director should check with the registrar to determine the proper procedures to 

follow when burial does occur. 

Amending certificates and reports 

The State registrar has statutory authority to amend certificates and reports after 

they have been registered with the State office of vital statistics. This makes it 

possible to add information that was unknown at the time the certificate or report 

was completed and filed by the funeral director or to correct the record when 

erroneous information was recorded because of error, misrepresentation, or insufficient information pending autopsy or laboratory findings. 

Each State has laws and regulations governing amendments. Within the framework of these laws and regulations, the State registrar requires the execution of 

certain forms by a person eligible to do so, designates any documentary evidence 

needed to substantiate the amendment, and furnishes complete procedural instructions. It is important to attain maximum accuracy and completeness for the 

benefit of the decedent’s family, for the reliability of statistical data, and to 

protect the integrity of the vital registration and statistics system. Therefore, 

anyone having knowledge of the existence of an incomplete or incorrect record is 

encouraged to contact the State registrar. 

9 
Part I—General Instructions for Completing 

Certificates and Reports 

The funeral director or person acting as such, is responsible for completing and 

filing the death certificate. He or she shall obtain the personal information from 

the best qualified person and shall obtain the medical certification from the 

person responsible therefor. In most cases, the best qualified person to obtain the 

personal information from, the informant, is a member or friend of the family. 

The following individuals can be the informant and are listed in order of 

preference: spouse, a parent, a child of the decedent, another relative, or other 

person who has knowledge of the facts. 

Whatever the source may be, the name, relationship to decedent, and mailing 

address of the informant must appear on the certificate in the space provided. 

It is essential that certificates and reports be prepared as permanent durable 

records. Completing a death certificate involves the following guidelines: 

+ Use the current form designated by the State. 

+ Complete each item, following the specific instructions for that item. 

+ Make the entry legible. Use a computer printer with high resolution, typewriter with good black ribbon and clean keys, or print legibly using permanent black ink. 

+ Do not use abbreviations except those recommended in the specific item 

instructions. 

+ Verify with the informant the spelling of names, especially those that have 

different spellings for the same sound (Smith or Smyth, Gail or Gayle, Wolf 

or Wolfe, etc.). 

+ Refer problems not covered in these instructions to the State office of vital 

statistics or to the local registrar. 

+ Obtain all signatures; rubber stamps or other facsimile signatures are not 

acceptable. If jurisdiction permits, authenticate electronically. 

10 
+ Do not make alterations or erasures. 

+ File the original certificate or report with the registrar. Reproductions or 

duplicates are not acceptable. 

11 
Part II—Completing the Certificate of Death 

These instructions pertain to the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of 

Death. Usually the funeral director completes items 1–23 and 51–55, and the 

medical certifier completes the remaining items. 

Items to be completed or verified by the funeral director (items 

1–23) 

NAME OF DECEDENT: For use by physician or institution 

The left-hand margin of the certificate contains a line where the physician or 

hospital can write in the name of the decedent. This allows the hospital to assist 

in completing the death certificate before the body is removed by the funeral 

director. However, because the funeral director is responsible for completion of 

the personal information about the decedent and because the hospital frequently 

does not have the complete legal name of the decedent, the hospital or physician 

should enter the name they have for the decedent in this item. The funeral 

director will then enter the full legal name in item 1. 

1. DECEDENT’S LEGAL NAME (Include AKAs if any) (First, Middle, Last) 

Enter the full first, middle, and last names of the decedent. Do not abbreviate. Do 

not copy any name from the left-hand margin of the certificate into item 1 on the 

certificate; the name in the margin may be incomplete or incorrect. 

If there appears to be more than one spelling of any name provided and the 

correct spelling cannot be verified, use the most common spelling. The name 

must consist of English alphabetic characters and punctuation marks. 

Multiple first or middle names 

If the informant indicates two first names separated by a space, such as ‘‘Mary 

Louise Carter,’’ verify that ‘‘Louise’’ is part of the first name and is not a middle 

name. 

12 
Enter the two first names with a blank space between them. If several middle 

names are given, enter all with a space between the names. 

Initials 

If the informant indicates that the person uses a first initial such as ‘‘E. Charles 

Jones,’’ try to obtain the whole first name. 

If the name can be obtained, enter the whole first name. If not, enter just the 

initial followed by a period. 

If the informant indicates two initials and a surname such as ‘‘H.S. Green,’’ 

determine if these are a first and middle initial, or two first initials with no middle 

name or initial. Try to obtain the whole name(s). 

If the names can be obtained, enter the whole names in the appropriate spaces. If 

there are no whole names, enter the initials in the appropriate spaces. Each initial 

should be followed by a period. 

Religious names and titles 

If there is a title preceding the name, such as ‘‘Doctor,’’ do not enter the title in 

any of the name fields. 

For religious names such as ‘‘Sister Mary Lawrence,’’ enter ‘‘Sister Mary’’ in the 

first name field. 

No first or middle names (infants) 

If a name such as ‘‘Baby Boy Watts’’ is obtained from medical records for the 

death of a newborn, check with the parents or other informant to see if the child 

had a given name. 

If the child had not been given a name, leave the first and middle name fields 

blank and enter only the surname. 

Aliases 

Complete the current legal name before entering any other names (alias or AKA, 

‘‘also known as,’’ names such as AKA Smith) the decedent used or was known 

as. The alias should be listed if it is substantially different from the decedent’s 

legal name (e.g., Samuel Langhorne Clemens AKA Mark Twain, but not Jonathon 

13 
Doe AKA John Doe). Record the alias name with AKA preceding the name (e.g., 

AKA Smith). Repeat until there are no other names provided. 

The State may enter the full alias rather than just the part of the name that differs 

from the legal name. 

AKA does not include: 

+ Nicknames, unless used for legal purposes or at the family’s request. 

+ Spelling variations of the first name. 

+ Presence or absence of middle initial. 

+ Presence or absence of punctuation marks or spaces. 

+ Variations in spelling of common elements of the surname, such as ‘‘Mc’’ and 

‘‘Mac’’ or ‘‘St.’’ and ‘‘Saint.’’ 

This item is used to identify the decedent. This is the most important item on the 

certificate for legal and personal use by the family. There are alternate spellings 

to many names, and it is critical for the family to have the name spelled correctly. 

2. SEX 

Enter male or female based on observation. Do not abbreviate or use other 

symbols. If sex cannot be determined after verification with medical records, 

inspection of the body, or other sources, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ Do not leave this 

item blank. 

This item aids in the identification of the decedent. It is also used in research and 

statistical analysis to determine sex-specific death rates. 

3. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER 

Enter the decedent’s 9-digit Social Security Number (SSN). Read the number 

back to the informant, or check against the document from which it is being 

copied before moving to the next item. 

If the informant does not know the decedent’s SSN at the time of the interview, 

leave the item blank until the informant can supply the number. 

If the decedent has no SSN, for example, a recent immigrant or a person from a 

foreign country visiting the United States, enter ‘‘None.’’ 

If the deceased’s SSN is not known, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

14 
If the decedent’s SSN is not obtainable, enter ‘‘Not obtainable.’’ 

This item is useful in identifying the decedent and facilitates the filing of Social 

Security claims. 

4a–c AGE 

Make one entry only in either 4a, 4b, or 4c depending on the age of the decedent. 

4a. AGE—LAST BIRTHDAY (Years) 

Enter the decedent’s exact age in years at his or her last birthday.

If the decedent was under 1 year of age, leave this item blank.

Drop all fractions, such as ‘‘75 and a half years,’’ and record as ‘‘75.’’

For responses such as ‘‘about 90 years,’’ enter ‘‘90’’ in the Years box.

4b. UNDER 1 YEAR (Months, Days) 

Enter the exact age in either months or days at time of death for infants surviving

at least 1 month.

If the infant was 1–11 months of age inclusive, enter the age in completed

months.

If the infant was less than 1 month old, enter the age in completed days.

If the infant was over 1 year or under 1 day of age, leave this item blank.

For responses such as ‘‘almost 4 months,’’ enter ‘‘3’’ in the Months box.

4c. UNDER 1 DAY (Hours, Minutes) 

Enter the exact number of hours or minutes the infant lived for infants who did

not survive for an entire day.

If the infant lived l–23 hours inclusive, enter the age in completed hours.

If the infant was less than 1 hour old, enter the age in minutes.

If the infant was more than 1 day old, leave this item blank.

If the informant gives an unspecified answer such as several hours or a few

minutes, ASK: ‘‘Can you give me a number?’’ If a range is given, use the lower

number. If the informant cannot give a number, be sure to identify the units if

possible by entering a ‘‘?’’ in the appropriate unit box.

If the informant does not know and cannot obtain the age, record ‘‘Unknown’’ in

box 4a.

Information from items 4a–c is used to study differences in age-specific mortality 

and in planning and evaluating public health programs. 

15 
5. DATE OF BIRTH (Mo/Day/Yr) 

Enter the full name of the month (January, February, March, etc.), day, and 

4-digit year that the decedent was born. Do not use a number or abbreviation to 

designate the month. 

If the Date of Birth is unknown, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ If part of the Date of Birth is 

unknown, enter the known parts and leave the remaining parts blank. 

For example, for a person who was born in 1913 but the month and day are not 

known, enter 1913. Or if the month and year are known but the day is not known, 

enter February, ‘‘blank,’’ 1913. 

This item is useful in identification of the decedent for legal purposes. It also 

helps verify the accuracy of the age item. 

6. BIRTHPLACE (City and State or Foreign Country) 

If the decedent was born in the United States, enter the name of the city and 

State. (NOTE: Canadian provinces and territories are not collected for decedent’s 

place of birth.) 

If the decedent was not born in the United States, enter the name of the country 

of birth whether or not the decedent was a U.S. citizen at the time of death. 

If the decedent was born in the United States but the city is unknown, enter the 

name of the State only. If the State is unknown, enter ‘‘U.S.—unknown.’’ 

If the decedent was born in a foreign country but the country is unknown, enter 

‘‘Foreign-unknown.’’ 

If no information is available regarding place of birth, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

This item is used to match birth and death certificates of a deceased individual. 

Matching birth and death records provides information from the birth certificate 

that is not contained on the death certificate and may give insight into which 

conditions led to death. Information from the birth certificate is especially 

important in examining the causes of infant mortality. 

7a–g. RESIDENCE OF DECEDENT 

The residence of the decedent (State, county, city, and street address) is the place 

where his or her household is located, the place where the decedent actually 

16 
resided, or where the person lives and sleeps most of the time. This is not 

necessarily the same as home State, voting residence, mailing address, or legal 

residence. 

Do not enter addresses that are post office boxes or rural route numbers. Get the 

building number and street name for the residence address rather than the postal 

address. 

Temporary residence 

Never enter a temporary residence, such as one used during a visit, business trip, 

or a vacation. However, usual onshore place of residence during a tour of military 

duty is not considered temporary and should be entered as the place of residence 

on the certificate. Similarly, usual place of residence during attendance at college 

is not considered temporary and should be entered as the place of residence on 

the certificate. 

Multiple residences 

If the decedent lived in more than one residence (parent living in a child’s 

household, children in joint custody, person owning more than one residence, or 

commuters living elsewhere while working), enter the residence lived in most of 

the year. If a child lives an equal amount of time in each residence, report the 

residence where the child was staying when death occurred. 

Institutions or group homes 

If a decedent had been living in a facility where an individual usually resides for 

a long period of time, such as a group home, mental institution, nursing home, 

penitentiary, or hospital for the chronically ill, long-term care facility, congregate 

care facility, foster home, or board and care home, this facility should be entered 

as the place of residence in items 7a through 7g. 

Children 

If the decedent was a child, residence is the same as that of the parent(s), legal 

guardian, or custodian unless the child was living in an institution where individuals usually reside for long periods of time, as indicated above. In those 

instances the residence of the child is shown as the facility. Children residing at 

a boarding school are considered to live at a parent’s residence. Residence for 

foster children is the place they live most of the time. 

17 
Infant 

If the decedent was an infant who never resided at home, the place of residence 

is that of the mother or legal guardian. Do not use an acute care hospital as the 

place of residence for any infant. 

7a. RESIDENCE—STATE 

Enter the name of the State in which the decedent lived. This may differ from the 

State in the mailing address. If the decedent was not a resident of the United 

States, enter the name of the country and the name of the unit of government that 

is the nearest equivalent to a State. 

This item is where the U.S. States and territories and the provinces of Canada are 

recorded. 

If the decedent lived in a Canadian province or territory, enter the name of the 

province or territory followed by ‘‘/ Canada.’’ If resident of any other country, 

enter the name of the country in the space for State. 

If the decedent’s residence is unknown, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

7b. RESIDENCE—COUNTY 

Enter the name of the county in which the decedent lived. 

If the decedent resided in any country other than the United States and its 

territories, leave this item blank. 

7c. RESIDENCE—CITY OR TOWN 

Enter the name of the city, town, or location in which the decedent lived. This 

may differ from the city, town, or location used in the mailing address. 

7d. RESIDENCE—STREET AND NUMBER 

Enter the number and street name of the place where the decedent lived. 

If the street name has a direction as a prefix, enter the prefix in front of the street 

name (e.g., South Main Street). If the street name has a direction after the name, 

enter the direction after the name (e.g., Florida Avenue, NW). Report the street 

designator (e.g., Street, Road, Avenue, or Court). 

18 
Enter the building number assigned to the decedent’s residence. If the number is 

unknown, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

7e. RESIDENCE—APT. NO. 

Enter the apartment or room number associated with the residence. If there is no 

apartment or room number associated with this residence, leave the item blank. 

7f. RESIDENCE—ZIP CODE 

Enter the ZIP Code of the place where the decedent lived. This may differ from 

the ZIP Code used in the mailing address. 

The 9-digit ZIP Code is preferred over the 5-digit ZIP Code. If only the 5-digit 

ZIP Code is known, report that. 

If the decedent was not a resident of the U.S. or its territories, leave this item 

blank. 

7g. RESIDENCE—INSIDE CITY LIMITS? h Yes h No 

Enter ‘‘Yes’’ if the location entered in 7c is incorporated and if the decedent’s 

residence is inside its boundaries. Otherwise enter ‘‘No.’’ 

If it is not known if the residence is inside the city or town limits, enter 

‘‘Unknown’’ in the space. 

Mortality data by residence are used with population data to compute death rates 

for detailed geographic areas. These data are important in environmental studies. Data on deaths by place of residence of the decedent are also used to prepare 

population estimates and projections. Local officials use this information to 

evaluate the availability and use of services in their area. Information on 

residence inside city limits is used to properly assign events within a county. 

Information on ZIP Code and whether the decedent lived inside city limits is 

valuable for studies of deaths for small areas. 

8. EVER IN U.S. ARMED FORCES? h Yes h No 

If the decedent ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces, enter ‘‘Yes.’’ If not, enter 

‘‘No.’’ If it cannot be determined whether the decedent served in the U.S. Armed 

Forces, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ Do not leave this item blank. 

19 
This item is used to identify decedents who were veterans. This information is of 

interest to veteran groups. 

9. MARITAL STATUS AT TIME OF DEATH 

h Married h Married, but separated h Widowed 

h Divorced h Never Married h Unknown 

If the decedent was married at the time of death, enter ‘‘Married.’’

If the decedent was married, but separated at the time of death, enter ‘‘Married,

but separated.’’

If the decedent was widowed at the time of death, enter ‘‘Widowed.’’

If the decedent was divorced at the time of death, enter ‘‘Divorced.’’

If the decedent never married, enter ‘‘Never Married.’’

If marital status cannot be determined, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’

NOTE: ‘‘Annulled and not remarried’’ and ‘‘never previously married’’ are

considered ‘‘Never Married.’’ ‘‘Married previously’’ is classified as how the

previous marriage terminated (‘‘Widowed’’ or ‘‘Divorced’’). ‘‘Common law marriage’’ is considered ‘‘Married.’’ ‘‘Indian marriage’’ is considered ‘‘Married.’’

This information is used in determining differences in mortality by marital status. 

10. SURVIVING SPOUSE’S NAME (If wife, give name prior to first 

marriage) 

If the decedent was married at the time of death, enter the full name of the 

surviving spouse. 

If the surviving spouse is the wife, enter her name prior to first marriage (i.e., 

maiden name). 

If both spouses died at the same time, enter spouse’s name and ‘‘died simultaneously.’’ 

This item is used in genealogical studies and in establishing proper insurance 

settlement and other survivor benefits. 

11. FATHER’S NAME (First, Middle, Last) 

Enter the first, middle, and last name of the father. 

20 
If there appears to be more than one spelling of any name provided, and the 

correct spelling cannot be verified, use the most common spelling. The name 

must consist of English alphabetic characters and punctuation marks. 

If the father’s name cannot be determined, enter ‘‘Unknown’’ in the name field. 

12. MOTHER’S NAME PRIOR TO FIRST MARRIAGE (First, Middle, 

Last) 

Enter the name (first, middle, and surname) the mother of the decedent used prior 

to first marriage, commonly known as the maiden name. This is the name given 

at birth or adoption, not a name acquired by marriage. This name is useful 

because it remains constant throughout life. 

The names of the decedent’s mother and father aid in identification of the 

decedent’s record. The mother’s name prior to first marriage or maiden surname 

is important for matching the record with other records because it remains 

constant throughout a lifetime in contrast to other names that may change 

because of marriage or divorce. These items are also of importance in genealogical studies. 

13a. INFORMANT’S NAME 

Enter the name of the person who supplied the personal facts about the decedent 

and his or her family. 

13b. RELATIONSHIP TO DECEDENT 

Enter the relationship of the person supplying the personal information about the 

decedent. For example, this may be a husband, wife, parent, son, daughter, 

brother, sister, or friend. 

13c. MAILING ADDRESS (Street and Number, City, State, ZIP Code) 

Enter the complete mailing address of the informant whose name appears in item 

13a. Be sure to include the ZIP Code. 

The name and mailing address of the informant are used to contact the informant 

when inquiries must be made to correct or complete any items on the death 

certificate. 

21 
14. PLACE OF DEATH (Check only one; see instructions) 

The place where death is pronounced should be considered the place where death 

occurred. If the place of death is unknown but the body is found in your State, the 

certificate of death should be completed and filed in accordance with the laws of 

your State. Enter the type of place where the decedent was pronounced dead. 

Hospital deaths 

If the decedent was pronounced dead in a hospital, enter the decedent’s status at 

the hospital: Inpatient, Emergency Room/Outpatient (ER), or Dead on Arrival 

(DOA). Hospitals are licensed institutions providing diagnostic and therapeutic 

services to patients by a medical staff. 

Nonhospital deaths 

If the decedent was pronounced dead somewhere else, enter whether pronouncement occurred at a Hospice facility, Nursing home/Long term care facility, 

Decedent’s home, or other location. 

Hospice facility refers to a licensed institution providing hospice care (e.g., 

palliative and supportive care for the dying), not to hospice care that might be 

provided in a number of different settings including a patient’s home. 

If death was pronounced at a licensed long-term care facility, enter Nursing 

home/Long term care facility. A long-term care facility is not a hospital but 

provides patient care beyond custodial care (e.g., nursing home, skilled nursing 

facility, long-term care facility, convalescent care facility, extended care facility, 

intermediate care facility, residential care facility, and congregate care facility). 

If death was pronounced in the decedent’s home, enter ‘‘Decedent’s home.’’ A 

decedent’s home includes independent living units including private homes, 

apartments, bungalows, and cottages. 

If death was pronounced at a licensed ambulatory/surgical center, orphanage, 

prison ward, public building, birthing center, or facilities offering housing and 

custodial care but not patient care (e.g., board and care home, group home, 

custodial care facility, foster home), enter ‘‘Other (Specify).’’ If ‘‘Other (Specify)’’ 

22 
is entered, specify where death was legally pronounced, such as prison ward, 

physician’s office, the highway where a traffic accident occurred, a vessel, 

orphanage, group home, or at work. 

If the place of death is unknown but the body was found in a State, enter the 

place where the body was found as the place of death. 

15. FACILITY NAME (If not institution, give street & number) 

Institution deaths 

If the death occurred in a hospital, enter the full name of the hospital. 

If death occurred en route to or on arrival at a hospital, enter the full name of the 

hospital. Deaths that occur in an ambulance or emergency squad vehicle en route 

to a hospital fall in this category. 

If the death occurred in another type of institution such as a nursing home, enter 

the name of the institution where the decedent died. 

Noninstitutional deaths 

If the death occurred at home, enter the house number and street name, 

If the death occurred at some place other than those described above, enter the 

number and street name of the place or building (if at a building) where the 

decedent died. 

If the death occurred on a moving conveyance, enter the name of the vessel, for 

example, ‘‘S.S. Emerald Seas (at sea)’’ or ‘‘United Airlines Flight 423 (in 

flight).’’ 

16. CITY OR TOWN, STATE, AND ZIP CODE 

Enter the name of the city, town, village, or location, State, and ZIP Code where 

death occurred. 

17. COUNTY OF DEATH 

Enter the name of the county where death occurred. 

23 
If the death occurred on a moving conveyance in the United States and the body 

was first removed from the conveyance in this State, complete a death certificate, 

and enter as the place of death the address where the body was first removed 

from the conveyance. 

If the death occurred on a moving conveyance in international waters, international airspace, or in a foreign country or its airspace, and the body was first 

removed from the conveyance in this State, register the death in this State, but 

enter the actual place of death insofar as it can be determined. 

Information on place of death (items 14–17) is needed to determine who has 

jurisdiction for deaths that legally require investigation by a medical examiner or 

coroner. These items are also used for research and statistics comparing hospital 

and nonhospital deaths. Valuable information is provided for health planning and 

research on the utilization of health facilities. 

18–20 DISPOSITION 

18. METHOD OF DISPOSITION 

h Burial h Cremation h Donation h Entombment h Removal from State 

h Other (Specify) 

Enter the method of disposition of the decedent’s body. If the body is to be used 

by a hospital or a medical or mortuary school for scientific or educational 

purposes, enter ‘‘Donation’’ and specify the name and location of the institution 

in items 19 and 20. ‘‘Donation’’ refers only to the entire body, not to individual 

organs. If ‘‘Other (Specify)’’ is checked, enter the method of disposition on the 

line provided. 

The response reflects the wishes of the next of kin or informant. 

19. PLACE OF DISPOSITION (Name of cemetery, crematory, other place) 

Enter the name of the cemetery, crematory, or other place of disposition. If the 

body is removed from the State, specify the name of the cemetery, crematory, or 

other place of disposition to which the body is removed. 

If the body is to be used by a hospital or medical or mortuary school for scientific 

or educational purposes, give the name of that institution. 

24 
20. LOCATION—CITY, TOWN, AND STATE 

Enter the name of the city, town, or village and the State where the place of 

disposition is located. 

If the body of the decedent is to be used by a hospital or medical or mortuary 

school for scientific or educational purposes, enter the name of the city, town, or 

village and the State where the institution is located. 

If there is any question about how to record the place of disposition, contact the 

State or local registrar. 

Items 18–20 indicate whether the body was properly disposed of as required by 

law. These also serve to locate the body in case exhumation, autopsy, or transfer 

is required later. In addition, this information assists family or genealogists in 

locating place of disposition at a later date. 

21–23 FUNERAL FACILITY 

21. NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS OF FUNERAL FACILITY 

Enter the name and complete address (including ZIP Code) of the facility 

handling the body prior to burial or other disposition. 

22. SIGNATURE OF FUNERAL SERVICE LICENSEE OR OTHER AGENT 

The funeral service licensee or other person first assuming custody of the body 

and charged with the responsibility for completing the death certificate should 

sign in permanent black ink. If jurisdiction permits, authenticate electronically. 

Rubber stamps or facsimile signatures are not permitted. 

23. LICENSE NUMBER (Of Licensee) 

Enter the personal State license number of the funeral service licensee. If some 

other person who is not a licensed funeral director assumes custody of the body, 

identify the category of license and corresponding State license number, or, if the 

individual possesses no license at all, enter ‘‘None.’’ 

Items 21–23 assist in quality control in filling out and filing death certificates. 

They identify the person who is responsible for filing the certificate with the 

registrar. 

25 
Items to be completed by the medical certifier (items 24–49) 

In each State, it is the responsibility of the funeral director to obtain the necessary 

information to complete and file the death certificate. Items 24–49, which are 

listed below, pertain to information about the cause of death and are not completed by the funeral director but by the attending physician or the hospital. 

Instructions for completing these items are available in separate handbooks titled, 

Physicians’ Handbook on Medical Certification of Death and Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting. 

These handbooks provide detailed instructions on completing the cause-of-death 

information and can be obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics, 

3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782. They can be accessed at the 

following Internet Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/other/ 

miscpub/miscpub.htm. 

24. DATE PRONOUNCED DEAD 

25. TIME PRONOUNCED DEAD 

26. SIGNATURE OF PERSON PRONOUNCING DEATH 

27. LICENSE NUMBER 

28. DATE SIGNED 

29. ACTUAL OR PRESUMED DATE OF DEATH 

30. ACTUAL OF PRESUMED TIME OF DEATH 

31. WAS MEDICAL EXAMINER OR CORONER CONTACTED? 

32. PART I & PART II—CAUSE OF DEATH 

33. WAS AN AUTOPSY PERFORMED? 

34. WERE AUTOPSY FINDINGS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE 

CAUSE OF DEATH? 

35. DID TOBACCO USE CONTRIBUTE TO DEATH? 

36. IF FEMALE, WAS DECEDENT PREGNANT AT TIME OF DEATH 

OR WITHIN PAST YEAR? 

37. MANNER OF DEATH 

38. DATE OF INJURY 

39. TIME OF INJURY 

40. PLACE OF INJURY 

41. INJURY AT WORK? 

42. LOCATION OF INJURY 

43. DESCRIBE HOW INJURY OCCURRED 

44. IF TRANSPORTATION INJURY, SPECIFY: 

45. CERTIFIER 

46. NAME, ADDRESS, AND ZIP CODE OF PERSON COMPLETING 

CAUSE OF DEATH (ITEM 32) 

26 
47. TITLE OF CERTIFIER 

48. LICENSE NUMBER 

49. DATE CERTIFIED 

Item to be completed by the Registrar (item 50) 

50. FOR REGISTRAR ONLY—DATE FILED (Mo/Day/Yr) 

Additional items to be completed or verified by the funeral director 

(items 51–53) 

51. DECEDENT’S EDUCATION 

Check the box that corresponds to the highest level of education that the decedent 

completed. 

Show the informant the education level categories on a card (see ‘‘Appendix B’’) 

and ask the informant to choose the category that, to the best of his or her 

knowledge, describes the highest education level completed by the decedent. 

h 8th grade or less 

h 9th–12th grade; no diploma 

h High school graduate or GED completed 

h Some college credit, but no degree 

h Associate degree (e.g., AA, AS) 

h Bachelor ’s degree (e.g., BA, AB, BS) 

h Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA) 

h Doctorate (e.g., PhD, EdD) or Professional degree (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM, 

LLB, JD) 

If the decedent was currently enrolled, mark the previous grade or highest degree 

received. If the respondent does not know or is not sure, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ If the 

respondent refuses, enter ‘‘Refused.’’ If there is no informant, or for some other 

reason the information is not available, enter ‘‘Not obtainable.’’ 

If the respondent indicates that the decedent has a degree that is not listed on the 

card, enter ‘‘Not classifiable.’’ 

27 
This information is used to study the relationship between mortality and education (which roughly corresponds with socioeconomic status). This information is 

valuable in medical studies of causes of death and in programs to prevent illness 

and death. 

52. DECEDENT OF HISPANIC ORIGIN? Check the box that best describes 

whether the decedent is Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. Check the ‘‘No’’ box if the 

decedent is not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. 

Based on the informant’s response, check the box (see card in ‘‘Appendix C’’) 

that best corresponds with the decedent’s ethnic identity as given by the informant. The response should reflect what the decedent considered himself or 

herself to be. The informant is encouraged to select only one response. If the 

informant is unable to select a single response, mark all boxes that apply; for 

example, if the informant selects both ‘‘Mexican’’ and ‘‘Cuban,’’ enter both 

responses. If the respondent indicates an ethnic origin not on the list, it should be 

recorded in the ‘‘Specify’’ space. Enter the informant’s response even if it is not 

a Hispanic origin. 

The choices are as follows: 

h No, not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino 

h Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano 

h Yes, Puerto Rican 

h Yes, Cuban 

h Yes, other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino (Specify) 

The Race and Hispanic origin questions should be asked independently. ‘‘Hispanic’’ is not a race, and a decedent of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Do 

not leave item 52 blank. ‘‘Hispanic’’ is a self-designated classification for people 

whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South 

America, the Caribbean, or those identifying themselves generally as Spanish or 

Spanish American. Origin can be viewed as ancestry, nationality, or country of 

birth of the person or person’s parents or ancestors prior to their arrival in the 

United States. Although the prompts include the major Hispanic groups, other 

groups may be specified under ‘‘Other.’’ 

If the informant does not know, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

If there is no informant, enter ‘‘Not obtainable.’’ 

If respondent refuses, enter ‘‘Refused.’’ 

28 
Hispanics comprise a substantial population group within this country. Reliable 

data are needed to identify and assess public health problems of Hispanics. 

Information from item 52 will permit the production of mortality data for the 

Hispanic community. Identifying health problems will make it possible to target 

public health resources to this important segment of our population. 

53. DECEDENT’S RACE (Check one or more races to indicate what the 

decedent considered himself or herself to be) 

Ask the informant to look at the card (see ‘‘Appendix C’’) and indicate the race 

or races that the decedent considered himself or herself to be. Enter the race or 

races of the decedent as stated by the informant. The Race and Hispanic origin 

questions should be asked independently. Do not leave item 53 blank. If there is 

no checkbox for the informant’s response for one or more race, check the ‘‘Other 

(Specify)’’ box and enter the informant’s literal (written) response, even if the 

response is not a race or race(s). 

Check one or more of the following choices to indicate what the decedent 

considered himself or herself to be: 

h White

h Black or African American

h American Indian or Alaska Native

(Name of the enrolled or principle tribe)

h Asian Indian

h Chinese

h Filipino

h Japanese

h Korean

h Vietnamese

h Other Asian (Specify)

h Native Hawaiian

h Guamanian or Chamorro

h Samoan

h Other Pacific Islander (Specify)

h Other (Specify) 

American Indian and Alaska Native refer only to those native to North and South 

America (including Central America) and do not include Asian Indian. Please 

specify the name of enrolled or principal tribe (e.g., Navajo or Cheyenne) for the 

American Indian or Alaska Native. 

29 
For Asians or Pacific Islanders, enter the national origin of the decedent. For 

Asians check Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or 

specify Other Asian; for Pacific Islanders, check Native Hawaiian, Guamanian or 

Chamorro, Samoan, or specify Other Pacific Islander. 

If more than one race is indicated, enter each race (e.g., Samoan-Chinese-Filipino 

or White, American Indian). 

If there is no informant or other reliable source of this information, enter ‘‘Not 

obtainable.’’ If the respondent does not know, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ If the respondent refuses, enter ‘‘Refused.’’ 

Race is essential for identifying specific mortality patterns and leading causes of 

death among different racial groups. It is also used to determine if specific health 

programs are needed in particular areas and to make population estimates. 

54. and 55. USUAL OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY OF DECEDENT 

These items are to be completed for all decedents 14 years of age and over. Enter 

the information even if the decedent was retired, disabled, or institutionalized at 

the time of death. 

This information is useful in studying deaths related to jobs and in identifying 

any new risks. For example, the link between lung disease and lung cancer and 

asbestos exposure in jobs such as shipbuilding or construction was discovered by 

analyzing this sort of information on death certificates. 

54. DECEDENT’S USUAL OCCUPATION (Indicate type of work done 

during most of working life. DO NOT USE RETIRED.) 

Enter the usual occupation of the decedent. This means the type of job the 

individual was engaged in for most of his or her working life. It is not necessarily 

the highest paid job nor the job considered the most prestigious, but the one 

occupation, of perhaps several, that accounted for the greatest number of working 

years. For example, usual occupation may include claim adjuster, farmhand, coal 

miner, janitor, store manager, college professor, or civil engineer. Never enter 

‘‘Retired.’’ 

If the decedent was a homemaker at the time of death but had worked outside the 

household during his or her working life, enter that occupation. If the decedent 

was a ‘‘homemaker ’’ during most of his or her working life, or never worked 

30 
outside the household, enter ‘‘Homemaker.’’ Enter ‘‘Student’’ if the decedent was 

a student at the time of death and was never regularly employed or employed full 

time during his or her working life. 

If not known, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

55. KIND OF BUSINESS/INDUSTRY 

Enter the kind of business or industry to which the occupation listed in item 54 is 

related, such as insurance, farming, coal mining, hardware store, retail clothing, 

university, or government. Do not enter firm or organization names. 

If the decedent was a homemaker during his or her working life and ‘‘Homemaker’’ is entered as the decedent’s usual occupation in item 54, enter ‘‘Own 

home’’ or ‘‘Someone else’s home,’’ whichever is appropriate. 

If the decedent was a student at the time of death and ‘‘Student’’ is entered as the 

decedent’s usual occupation in item 54, enter the type of school, such as high 

school or college, in item 55. 

If not known, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

These items are useful in studying occupationally related mortality and in identifying job-related risk areas. For example, correlating asbestos used in particular occupations in the shipbuilding industry to respiratory cancer was possible 

with this information. If the funeral director or person acting as such have 

questions about what classification to use for a decedent’s occupation or industry, refer to the handbook ‘‘Guidelines for Reporting Occupation and Industry on 

Death Certificates.’’ 

31 
Part III—Completing the Report of Fetal Death 

These instructions pertain to the 2003 U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death. (See 

‘‘Appendix D.’’) 

Items pertaining to the fetus (items 1–9) 

1. NAME OF FETUS (optional—at the discretion of the parents) 

Enter the full name given to the fetus. If the parents chose not to name the fetus, 

leave blank. 

This item is optional for parents who chose to name the fetus. 

2. TIME OF DELIVERY (24 hr) 

Enter the hour and minute of delivery using a 24-hour clock. If the time of 

delivery is not known, enter ‘‘Unknown’’ in the space. The National Institute of 

Standards and Technology recommends the use of the 24-hour clock (0000– 

2359). The new day begins at 0000 and ends at 2359. If the delivery occurs 

around midnight, the exact hour and minute may affect the date of fetal death. If 

this occurs, the attendant should be consulted to determine whether the delivery 

should be recorded as occurring at the end or the beginning of the day. If a 

12-hour clock is used, to avoid ambiguity in the date associated with the use of 

‘‘a.m.’’ and ‘‘p.m.,’’ specify the time as beginning as 1201 a.m. or ending at 1159 

p.m. or specify as 12 midnight or 12 noon. For deliveries occurring at the end of 

the year, the hour and minute affect not only the day but also the year of death. 

The table below has been provided as a guide. 

32 
24-hour clock 12-hour clock 

0000 (medical facilities) 12:00 midnight 

2400 (military facilities) 

0100 1:00 a.m. 

0200 2:00 a.m. 

0300 3:00 a.m. 

0400 4:00 a.m. 

0500 5:00 a.m. 

0600 6:00 a.m. 

0700 7:00 a.m. 

0800 8:00 a.m. 

0900 9:00 a.m. 

1000 10:00 a.m 

1100 11:00 a.m. 

1200 12:00 noon 

1300 1:00 p.m. 

1400 2:00 p.m. 

1500 3:00 p.m. 

1600 4:00 p.m. 

1700 5:00 p.m. 

1800 6:00 p.m. 

1900 7:00 p.m. 

2000 8:00 p.m. 

2100 9:00 p.m. 

2200 10:00 p.m. 

2300 11:00 p.m 

This information documents the exact time of delivery for legal uses such as the 

order of delivery in plural deliveries. 

3. SEX (M/F/Unk) 

Enter male or female based on observation or verification with medical records. 

Do not abbreviate or use other symbols. If sex cannot be determined after 

verification with medical records or other sources, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ Do not 

leave this item blank. 

This information is used to measure fetal and perinatal mortality by sex. It helps 

identify differences in the impact of environmental and biological factors between 

the sexes. 

4. DATE OF DELIVERY (Mo/Day/Yr) 

Enter the exact month, day, and 4-digit year that the fetus was delivered. 

Enter the full name of the month—January, February, March, etc. Do not use a 

number or abbreviation to designate the month. A delivery at midnight is 

33 
considered a delivery occurring at the beginning of the day rather than the end of 

the previous day, unless the attendant thinks otherwise. 

This information is used in conjunction with date last normal menses began to 

calculate length of gestation, which is an essential element in the study of 

low-birthweight deliveries. 

5a. CITY, TOWN, OR LOCATION OF DELIVERY 

Enter the name of the city, township, village, or other location where the fetal 

death occurred. For fetal deaths occurring on a moving conveyance, enter the 

city, town, village, or location where the fetus was first removed from the 

conveyance. 

If a dead fetus is found in this State and the place of fetal death is unknown, the 

fetal death should be registered in this State. The place where the fetus was found 

should be considered the place of fetal death. 

5b. ZIP CODE OF DELIVERY 

Enter the ZIP Code of the city where the fetal death occurred. 

6. COUNTY OF DELIVERY 

Enter the name of the county where the fetal death occurred. For fetal deaths 

occurring on a moving conveyance, enter the county where the fetus was first 

removed from the conveyance. If the fetal death occurred in international waters 

or air space, enter the name of the county where the fetus was first removed from 

the conveyance. 

7. PLACE WHERE DELIVERY OCCURRED (Check one) 

h Hospital 

h Freestanding birthing center 

h Home Delivery: Planned to deliver at home? h Yes h No 

h Clinic/Doctor ’s office 

h Other (Specify) 

Check the box that best describes the type of place where the fetal death 

occurred. If the type of place is not known, enter ‘‘Unknown’’ in the space. 

34 
8. FACILITY NAME (If not institution, give street and number) 

Enter the name of the facility where the fetal death occurred. If this fetal death 

did not occur in a hospital or freestanding birthing center, enter the street and 

number of the place where the fetal death occurred. If the fetal death occurred en 

route, that is, in a moving conveyance, enter the city, town, village, or other 

location where the fetus was first removed from the conveyance. If the fetal death 

occurred in international airspace or waters, enter ‘‘plane’’ or ‘‘boat.’’ 

9. FACILITY ID. (NPI) 

Enter facility’s National Provider Identification number (NPI) or, if no NPI, the 

State hospital code. 

Items 5a, 5b, 6, 7, 8, and 9 identify the place of delivery, which is used to study 

relationships of hospital and nonhospital pregnancy terminations. It is also used 

by many States to produce statistical data by specific facility. Information on 

place of delivery, together with residence information, provides data to evaluate 

the utilization and distribution of health services. 

Items pertaining to the mother (items 10–11) 

10a. MOTHER’S CURRENT LEGAL NAME (First, Middle, Last, Suffix) 

Enter the first, middle, and last name of the mother at the time of delivery. This 

is the mother’s current legal name. 

The mother’s name is important in identifying the record. 

10b. MOTHER’S DATE OF BIRTH (Mo/Day/Yr) 

Enter the exact month, day, and 4-digit year that the mother was born. 

Enter the full name of the month—January, February, March, etc. Do not use a 

number or abbreviation to designate the month. 

This item is used to calculate the age of the mother, which is one of the most 

important factors in the study of childbearing and pregnancy outcome. 

35 
10c. MOTHER’S NAME PRIOR TO FIRST MARRIAGE (First, Middle, 

Last, Suffix) 

Enter the mother’s first, middle, and last name used prior to first marriage, 

commonly known as the maiden name. 

The name of the mother aids in identification of the record. The name of the 

mother prior to first marriage is especially useful in identifying the record 

because it remains constant throughout life. 

10d. MOTHER’S BIRTHPLACE (State, Territory, or Foreign Country) 

Enter the name of the U.S. State or territory in which the mother was born. 

If the mother was born outside of the United States, enter the name of the country 

in which she was born. United States territories are Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin 

Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Marianas. If the mother’s birthplace is not known, enter ‘‘Unknown’’ in the space. (Note: Canadian provinces 

and territories are not individually identified for place of birth.) If the mother was 

born in a foreign country but the country is unknown, enter ‘‘Foreign— 

unknown.’’ 

This item is useful in obtaining information on recent immigrant groups. Also, 

including this item will provide information on the differences in childbearing 

patterns between foreign and U.S.-born women. 

11a–g RESIDENCE OF MOTHER 

The mother ’s residence is the place where her household is located. This is not 

necessarily the same as her home State, voting residence, mailing address, or 

legal residence. The State, county, city, and street address should be for the place 

where the mother actually lives. Never enter a temporary residence, such as one 

used during a visit, business trip, or vacation. Residence for a short time at the 

home of a relative or friend is considered temporary and should not be entered 

here. However, place of residence during a tour of military duty or during 

attendance at college is not considered temporary and should be entered on the 

report as the mother ’s place of residence. 

If the mother had been living in a facility where an individual usually resides for 

a long period of time, such as a group home, mental institution, nursing home, 

penitentiary, or hospital for the chronically ill, this facility should be entered as 

the place of residence. 

36 
11a. STATE 

Enter the name of the State in which the mother lives. This may differ from the 

State in her mailing address. If the mother is not a U.S. resident, enter the name 

of the country and the name of the unit of government that is the nearest 

equivalent to a State. 

11b. COUNTY 

Enter the name of the county in which the mother lives. 

11c. CITY, TOWN, OR LOCATION 

Enter the name of the city, town, or location where the mother lives. This may 

differ from the city, town, or location used in her mailing address. 

11d. STREET AND NUMBER 

Enter the number and street name of the place where the mother lives. If the 

street name has a direction as a prefix, enter the prefix in front of the street name 

(e.g., South Main Street). If the street name has a direction after the name, enter 

the direction after the name (e.g., Florida Avenue NW). Report the ‘‘street’’ 

designator (e.g., Street, Road, Avenue, or Court). 

Enter the building number assigned to the mother’s residence. If the number is 

unknown, enter ‘‘Unknown.’’ 

If this location has no number and street name, enter the rural route number or a 

description of the place that will aid in identifying the precise location. 

11e. APT. NO. 

Enter the apartment number of the place where the mother lives. If the mother 

did not live in an apartment, leave this item blank. 

11f. ZIP CODE 

Enter the ZIP Code of the place where the mother resides. 

11g. INSIDE CITY LIMITS? h Yes h No 

37 
Enter ‘‘Yes’’ if the location entered in item 11c is incorporated and the mother’s 

residence is inside its boundaries. Otherwise, enter ‘‘No.’’ 

Statistics on fetal deaths are tabulated by place of residence of the mother. These 

data are used in planning for and evaluating community services and facilities, 

including maternal health programs. ‘‘Inside City Limits’’ is used to properly 

assign residence to either the city or the remainder of the county. ZIP Code 

information may also be used for environmental impact studies for small geographic areas. 

Items pertaining to the father (items 12a–c) 

12a. FATHER’S CURRENT LEGAL NAME (First, Middle, Last, Suffix) 

State laws vary. In general: 

If the fetus was born to a mother who was married at the time of delivery, 

enter the name of her husband. 

If the fetus was conceived in wedlock but delivered after a divorce was 

granted or after the husband died, enter the name of the mother’s deceased or 

divorced husband. 

If the fetus was conceived and delivered out of wedlock to a divorced, 

widowed, or never-married mother, leave this item BLANK. 

Note: If item 12a is left blank, items 12b and 12c should also be left blank. 

The father ’s name is important in identifying the record. 

12b. FATHER’S DATE OF BIRTH (Month, Day, Year) 

Enter the exact month, day, and 4-digit year that the father was born. 

Enter the full name of the month—January, February, March, etc. Do not use a 

number or abbreviation to designate the month. 

This item is used to calculate the age of the father, which is important in the study 

of childbearing. For example, it is used to study the association between congenital anomalies and children of older parents. 

38 
12c. FATHER’S BIRTHPLACE (State, Territory, or Foreign Country) 

Enter the name of the U.S. State or territory in which the father was born. If he 

was born outside of the United States, enter the name of the country in which he 

was born. U.S. territories are Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 

Samoa, and Northern Marianas. If the father’s birthplace is not known, enter 

‘‘Unknown’’ in the space. (NOTE: Canadian provinces and territories are not 

individually identified for place of birth.) 

This item is useful in obtaining information on recent immigrant groups. 

Item pertaining to the disposition of the fetus (item 13) 

13. METHOD OF DISPOSITION 

h Burial h Cremation h Hospital disposition h Donation 

h Removal from State h Other (Specify): 

Check the box corresponding to the method of disposition of the fetus. If ‘‘Other 

(Specify)’’ is checked, enter the method of disposition on the line provided. If the 

fetus is to be used by a hospital or a medical or mortuary school for scientific or 

educational purposes, enter ‘‘Donation.’’ Donation refers only to the entire fetus, 

not to individual organs. 

This information is useful in providing information about whether the fetus was 

disposed of as required by law. Also, this information assists family/genealogists 

in locating place of disposition at a later date. 

17. DATE RECEIVED BY REGISTRAR 

This item will be completed by the Registrar. 

The date documents that the fetal death report was received within the time 

period specified by State law. 

19. MOTHER’S EDUCATION (Check the box that best describes the highest degree or level of school completed at the time of delivery) 

h 8th grade or less 

h 9th–12th grade, no diploma 

h High school graduate or GED completed 

h Some college credit, but no degree 

h Associate degree (e.g., AA, AS) 

h Bachelor ’s degree (e.g., BA, AB, BS) 

39 
h Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA) 

h Doctorate (e.g., PhD, EdD) or Professional degree (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM, 

LLB, JD) 

Check the box that best describes the highest education level completed by the 

mother. If she is currently enrolled, check the box that indicates the previous 

grade or highest degree received. Do not leave this item blank. 

Education is highly related to fertility, health practices, and pregnancy outcome. 

It is also used as an indicator of socioeconomic status. 

20. MOTHER OF HISPANIC ORIGIN? (Check the box that best describes 

whether the mother is Spanish/Hispanic/Latina. Check the ‘‘No’’ box if 

mother is not Spanish/Hispanic/Latina) 

h No, not Spanish/Hispanic/Latina 

h Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicana 

h Yes, Puerto Rican 

h Yes, Cuban 

h Yes, other Spanish/Hispanic/Latina 

(Specify) 

The Hispanic origin (item 20) and Race (item 21) questions should be asked 

independently. ‘‘Hispanic’’ is not a race, and a mother who is of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race. Do not leave item 20 blank. ‘‘Hispanic’’ is a self-designated 

classification for people whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking 

countries of Central or South America, the Caribbean, or those identifying 

themselves generally as Spanish or Spanish-American. Origin can be viewed as 

ancestry, nationality, or country of birth of the person or person’s parents or 

ancestors prior to their arrival in the United States. Although the prompts include 

the major Hispanic groups, other groups may be specified under ‘‘Yes, other 

Spanish/Hispanic/Latina.’’ 

Check the box or boxes that best describe whether the mother is Spanish/Hispanic/ 

Latina. For example, if the mother indicates that she’s both Mexican and Cuban, 

check the boxes ‘‘Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicana’’ and ‘‘Yes, Cuban.’’ If the mother indicates an ethnic origin not on the list, enter it in the 

‘‘Specify’’ space. 

If the mother is not of Hispanic origin, check the box indicating ‘‘No, not 

Spanish/Hispanic/Latina.’’ 

40 
Hispanics make up the second largest minority in this country. This item provides 

data to measure differences in pregnancy outcome and variations in health care 

for people of Hispanic and non-Hispanic origin. This item is important because 

it provides a primary mechanism to obtain demographic and health information 

on this important group of Americans. 

21. MOTHER’S RACE (Check one or more races to indicate what the 

mother considers herself to be) 

h White

h Black or African American

h American Indian or Alaska Native

(Name of the enrolled or principal tribe)

h Asian Indian

h Chinese

h Filipino

h Japanese

h Korean

h Vietnamese

h Other Asian (Specify)

h Native Hawaiian

h Guamanian or Chamorro

h Samoan

h Other Pacific Islander (Specify)

h Other (Specify) 

The Race and Hispanic origin questions should be answered independently. Do 

not leave item 21 blank. If there is no checkbox for the response, check the box 

‘‘Other (Specify)’’ and enter the response in the blank, even if it is not a race. 

American Indian and Alaska Native refer only to those native to North and South 

America (including Central America) and do not include Asian Indian. Please 

specify the name of enrolled or principal tribe (e.g., Navajo or Cheyenne) for the 

American Indian or Alaska Native. 

For Asians and Pacific Islanders, enter the national origin of the mother. For 

Asians check Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or 

specify Other Asian group; for Pacific Islanders check Hawaiian, Guamanian or 

Chamorro, Samoan, or specify Other Pacific Islander. 

41 
If more than one race is indicated, enter each race (e.g., Samoan-Chinese-Filipino 

or White, American Indian). 

In 1997, the Office of Management and Budget mandated the use of specific 

guidelines in collecting information on race and ethnicity and provided an 

opportunity for individuals to choose more than one racial category if they wish 

to reflect multiple racial heritage. Race is essential in producing data for 

minority groups and is an important variable in planning for and evaluating the 

effectiveness of health programs. It is also used to study racial variations in 

childbearing, access to health care, and pregnancy outcomes (perinatal mortality 

and birth weight). 

22. MOTHER MARRIED? h Yes h No 

If the mother is currently married or married at time of conception or any time 

between conception and the fetal death, check the ‘‘Yes’’ box. 

If the mother is not currently married or was not married at the time of 

conception or any time between conception and the fetal death, check the ‘‘No’’ 

box. 

The information on marital status is used to monitor the substantial differences in 

fertility patterns and pregnancy outcomes for married and unmarried women. 

This information can help to identify the need for additional supportive public 

health and other services. 

Items pertaining to the medical and health information (items 

14–16, 18, and 23–40) 

Items 14–16, 18, and 23–40 (listed below) pertain to medical and health information. The funeral director does not complete these items. In the vast majority 

of States, the hospital is responsible for: 

+ Completing the entire fetal death report in consultation with the parents, 

+ Obtaining cause-of-fetal-death and other medical and health information from 

the physician, 

+ Obtaining authorization for final disposition of fetus, 

+ Filing the report with local or State office per State law. 

In some States, the funeral director ’s role in fetal death reporting is synonymous 

with that of the hospitals. The primary role of the funeral director in fetal death 

reporting is obtaining authorization for final disposition if a State has provisions 

that allow the fetus to be buried. Since it is the responsibility of the physician or 

42 
hospital to complete items 14–16, 18, and 23–40, instructions for completing 

these items are available in separate handbooks titled, Physicians’ Handbook on 

Medical Certification of Death and Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook 

on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting. These handbooks provide 

detailed instructions in completing the fetal death report and can be obtained 

from the National Center for Health Statistics, 3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, 

Maryland 20782. They can be accessed at the following Internet Web site: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/other/miscpub/miscpub.htm. 

14. ATTENDANT’S NAME, TITLE, AND NPI 

15. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON COMPLETING REPORT 

16. DATE REPORT COMPLETED 

18a. INITIATING CAUSE/CONDITION CONTRIBUTING TO FETAL 

DEATH 

18b. OTHER SIGNIFICANT CAUSES OR CONDITIONS 

18c. WEIGHT OF FETUS 

18d. OBSTETRIC ESTIMATE OF GESTATION AT DELIVERY 

18e. ESTIMATED TIME OF FETAL DEATH 

18f. WAS AN AUTOPSY PERFORMED? 

18g. WAS A HISTOLOGICAL PLACENTAL EXAMINATION 

PERFORMED? 

18h. WERE AUTOPSY OR HISTOLOGICAL PLACENTAL 

EXAMINATION RESULTS USED IN DETERMINING THE 

CAUSE OF FETAL DEATH? 

23a. DATE OF FIRST PRENATAL CARE VISIT 

23b. DATE OF LAST PRENATAL CARE VISIT 

24. TOTAL NUMBER OF PRENATAL VISITS FOR THIS 

PREGNANCY 

25. MOTHER’S HEIGHT 

26. MOTHER’S PREPREGNANCY WEIGHT 

27. MOTHER’S WEIGHT AT DELIVERY 

28. DID MOTHER GET WIC FOOD FOR HERSELF DURING THIS 

PREGNANCY? 

29. NUMBER OF PREVIOUS LIVE BIRTHS 

30. NUMBER OF OTHER PREGNANCY OUTCOMES 

31. CIGARETTE SMOKING BEFORE AND DURING PREGNANCY 

32. DATE LAST NORMAL MENSES BEGAN 

33. PLURALITY 

34. IF NOT SINGLE BIRTH 

35. MOTHER TRANSFERRED FOR MATERNAL MEDICAL OR 

FETAL INDICATIONS FOR DELIVERY 

36. RISK FACTORS IN THIS PREGNANCY 

43 
37. INFECTIONS PRESENT AND/OR TREATED DURING THIS 

PREGNANCY 

38. METHOD OF DELIVERY 

39. MATERNAL MORBIDITY 

40. CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF THE FETUS 

44 
Appendix A 

U.S. Standard Certificate of Death 

45 
46
MEDICAL CERTIFIER INSTRUCTIONS for selected items on U.S. Standard Certificate of Death (See Physicians’ 

Handbook or Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting for instructions 

on all items.) 

ITEMS ON WHEN DEATH OCCURRED 

Items 24–25 and 29–31 should always be completed. If the facility uses a separate pronouncer or other person to indicate that 

death has taken place with another person more familiar with the case completing the remainder of the medical portion of the 

death certificate, the pronouncer completes items 24–28. If a certifier completes items 24–25 as well as items 29–49, items 

26–28 may be left blank. 

ITEMS 24–25, 29–30 DATE AND TIME OF DEATH 

Spell out the name of the month. If the exact date of death is unknown, enter the approximate date. If the date cannot be 

approximated, enter the date the body is found and identify as date found. Date pronounced and actual date may be the same. 

Enter the exact hour and minutes according to a 24-hour clock; estimates may be provided with ‘‘Approx.’’ placed before the 

time. 

ITEM 32–CAUSE OF DEATH (See attached examples) 

Take care to make the entry legible. Use a computer printer with high resolution, typewriter with good black ribbon and clean 

keys, or print legibly using permanent black ink in completing the cause of death section. Do not abbreviate conditions entered 

in section. 

Part I (Chain of events leading directly to death) 

+ Only one cause should be entered on each line. Line (a) MUST ALWAYS have an entry. DO NOT leave blank. 

Additional lines may be added if necessary. 

+ If the condition on Line (a) resulted from an underlying condition, put the underlying condition on Line (b) and so on, 

until the full sequence is reported. ALWAYS enter the underlying cause of death on the lowest used line in Part I. 

+ For each cause indicate the best estimate of the interval between the presumed onset and the date of death. The terms 

‘‘unknown’’ or ‘‘approximately’’ may be used. General terms, such as minutes, hours, or days, are acceptable, if necessary. 

DO NOT leave blank. 

+ The terminal event (for example, cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest) should not be used. If a mechanism of death seems 

most appropriate to you for line (a), then you must always list its cause(s) on the line(s) below it (for example, cardiac 

arrest due to coronary artery atherosclerosis or cardiac arrest due to blunt impact to chest). 

+ If an organ system failure such as congestive heart failure, hepatic failure, renal failure, or respiratory failure is listed as 

a cause of death, always report its etiology on the line(s) beneath it (for example, renal failure due to Type I diabetes 

mellitus). 

+ When indicating neoplasms as a cause of death, include the following: 1) primary site or that the primary site is unknown, 

2) benign or malignant, 3) cell type or that the cell type is unknown, 4) grade of neoplasm, and 5) part or lobe of organ 

affected. (For example, a primary well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, lung, left upper lobe.) 

+ Always report the fatal injury (for example, stab wound of chest), the trauma (for example, transection of subclavian 

vein), and impairment of function (for example, air embolism). 

PART II (Other significant conditions) 

+ Enter all diseases or conditions contributing to death that were not reported in the chain of events in Part I and that did 

not result in the underlying cause of death. See attached examples. 

+ If two or more possible sequences resulted in death, or if two conditions seem to have added together, report in Part I the 

one that, in your opinion, most directly caused death. Report in Part II the other conditions or diseases. 

CHANGES TO CAUSE OF DEATH 

Should additional medical information or autopsy findings become available that would change the cause of death originally 

reported, the original death certificate should be amended by the certifying physician by immediately reporting the revised 

cause of death to the State Vital Records Office. 

ITEMS 33–34–AUTOPSY 

+ 33–Enter ‘‘Yes’’ if either a partial or full autopsy was performed. Otherwise enter ‘‘No.’’ 

+ 34–Enter ‘‘Yes’’ if autopsy findings were available to complete the cause of death; otherwise enter ‘‘No.’’ Leave item 

blank if no autopsy was performed. 

47 
ITEM 35–DID TOBACCO USE CONTRIBUTE TO DEATH? 

Check ‘‘Yes’’ if, in your opinion, the use of tobacco contributed to death. Tobacco use may contribute to deaths due to a wide 

variety of diseases; for example, tobacco use contributes to many deaths due to emphysema or lung cancer and some heart 

disease and cancers of the head and neck. Check ‘‘No’’ if, in your clinical judgment, tobacco use did not contribute to this 

particular death. 

ITEM 36–IF FEMALE, WAS DECEDENT PREGNANT AT TIME OF DEATH OR WITHIN PAST YEAR? 

This information is important in determining pregnancy-related mortality. 

ITEM 37–MANNER OF DEATH 

+ Always check Manner of Death, which is important: 1) in determining accurate causes of death; 2) in processing insurance 

claims; and 3) in statistical studies of injuries and death. 

+ Indicate ‘‘Pending investigation’’ if the manner of death cannot be determined whether due to an accident, suicide, or 

homicide within the statutory time limit for filing the death certificate. This should be changed later to one of the other 

terms. 

+ Indicate ‘‘Could not be determined’’ ONLY when it is impossible to determine the manner of death. 

ITEMS 38–44–ACCIDENT OR INJURY—to be filled out in all cases of deaths due to injury or poisoning. 

+ 38–Enter the exact month, day, and year of injury. Spell out the name of the month. DO NOT use a number for the month. 

(Remember, the date of injury may differ from the date of death.) Estimates may be provided with ‘‘Approx.’’ placed 

before the date. 

+ 39–Enter the exact hour and minutes of injury or use your best estimate. Use a 24-hour clock. 

+ 40–Enter the general place (such as restaurant, vacant lot, or home) where the injury occurred. DO NOT enter firm or 

organization names. (For example, enter ‘‘factory,’’ not ‘‘Standard Manufacturing, Inc.’’ ) 

+ 41–Complete if anything other than natural disease is mentioned in Part I or Part II of the medical certification, including 

homicides, suicides, and accidents. This includes all motor vehicle deaths. The item must be completed for decedents ages 

14 years or over and may be completed for those less than 14 years of age if warranted. Enter ‘‘Yes’’ if the injury occurred 

at work. Otherwise enter ‘‘No.’’ An injury may occur at work regardless of whether the injury occurred in the course of 

the decedent’s ‘‘usual’’ occupation. Examples of injury at work and injury not at work follow: 

Injury at work Injury not at work 

Injury while working or in vocational training on job premises Injury while engaged in personal recreational activity on job premises 

Injury while on break or at lunch or in parking lot on job premises Injury while a visitor (not on official work business) to job premises 

Injury while working for pay or compensation, including at home Homemaker working at homemaking activities 

Injury while working as a volunteer law enforcement official etc. Student in school 

Injury while traveling on business, including to/from business contacts Working for self for no profit (mowing yard, repairing own roof, 

hobby) 

Commuting to or from work 

+ 42–Enter the complete address where the injury occurred including ZIP Code. 

+ 43–Enter a brief but specific and clear description of how the injury occurred. Explain the circumstances or cause of the 

injury. Specify type of gun or type of vehicle (e.g., car, bulldozer, train, etc.) when relevant to circumstances. Indicate if 

more than one vehicle involved; specify type of vehicle decedent was in. 

+ 44–Specify role of decedent (e.g. driver, passenger). Driver/operator and passenger should be designated for modes other 

than motor vehicles such as bicycles. Other applies to watercraft, aircraft, animal, or people attached to outside of vehicles 

(e.g. surfers). 

Rationale: Motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of unintentional deaths; details will help determine effectiveness of current 

safety features and laws. 

REFERENCES 

For more information on how to complete the medical certification section of the death certificate, refer to tutorial at 

http://www.TheNAME.org and resources including instructions and handbooks available by request from NCHS, Room 7318, 

3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 or at www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/handbk.htm. 

48 
49 
FUNERAL DIRECTOR INSTRUCTIONS for selected items on U.S. Standard Certificate of Death 

(For additional information concerning all items on certificate see Funeral Directors’ Handbook on Death Registration & Fetal 

Death Reporting.) 

ITEM 1. DECEDENT’S LEGAL NAME 

Include any other names used by decedent, if substantially different from the legal name, after the abbreviation AKA (also 

known as) (e.g., Samuel Langhorne Clemens AKA Mark Twain, but not Jonathon Doe AKA John Doe). 

ITEM 5. DATE OF BIRTH 

Enter the full name of the month (January, February, March, etc.) Do not use a number or abbreviation to designate the month. 

ITEM 7A–G. RESIDENCE OF DECEDENT (information divided into seven categories) 

Residence of decedent is the place where the decedent actually resided. The place of residence is not necessarily the same as 

‘‘home State’’ or ‘‘legal residence.’’ Never enter a temporary residence such as one used during a visit, business trip, or 

vacation. Place of residence during a tour of military duty or during attendance at college is considered permanent and should 

be entered as the place of residence. If the decedent had been living in a facility where an individual usually resides for a long 

period of time, such as a group home, mental institution, nursing home, penitentiary, or hospital for the chronically ill, report 

the location of that facility in item 7. If the decedent was an infant who never resided at home, the place of residence is that of 

the parent(s) or legal guardian. Never use an acute care hospital’s location as the place of residence for any infant. If Canadian 

residence, please specify Province instead of State. 

ITEM 10. SURVIVING SPOUSE’S NAME 

If the decedent was married at the time of death, enter the full name of the surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse is the wife, 

enter her name prior to first marriage. This item is used in establishing proper insurance settlements and other survivor benefits. 

ITEM 12. MOTHER’S NAME PRIOR TO FIRST MARRIAGE 

Enter the name used prior to first marriage, commonly known as the maiden name. This name is useful because it remains 

constant throughout life. 

ITEM 14. PLACE OF DEATH 

The place where death is pronounced should be considered the place where death occurred. If the place of death is unknown but 

the body is found in your State, the certificate of death should be completed and filed in accordance with the laws of your State. 

Enter the place where the body is found as the place of death. 

ITEM 51. DECEDENT’S EDUCATION (Check appropriate box on death certificate) 

Check the box that corresponds to the highest level of education that the decedent completed. Information in this section will 

not appear on the certified copy of the death certificate. This information is used to study the relationship between 

mortality and education (which roughly corresponds with socioeconomic status). This information is valuable in medical 

studies of causes of death and in programs to prevent illness and death. 

ITEM 52. WAS DECEDENT OF HISPANIC ORIGIN? (Check ‘‘No’’ or appropriate ‘‘Yes’’ box) 

Check ‘‘No’’ or check the ‘‘Yes’’ box that best corresponds with the decedent’s ethnic Spanish identity as given by the 

informant. Note that ‘‘Hispanic’’ is not a race, and item 53 must also be completed. Do not leave this item blank. With respect 

to this item, ‘‘Hispanic’’ refers to people whose origins are from Spain, Mexico, or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands or 

countries of Central or South America. Origin includes ancestry, nationality, and lineage. There is no set rule about how many 

generations are to be taken into account in determining Hispanic origin; it may be based on the country of origin of a parent, 

grandparent, or some far-removed ancestor. Although the prompts include the major Hispanic groups, other groups may be 

specified under ‘‘other.’’ ‘‘Other’’ may also be used for decedents of multiple Hispanic origin (e.g., Mexican-Puerto Rican). 

Information in this section will not appear on the certified copy of the death certificate. This information is needed to 

identify health problems in a large minority population in the United States. Identifying health problems will make it 

possible to target public health resources to this important segment of our population. 

ITEM 53. RACE (Check appropriate box or boxes on death certificate) 

Enter the race of the decedent as stated by the informant. Hispanic is not a race; information on Hispanic ethnicity is collected 

separately in item 52. American Indian and Alaska Native refer only to those native to North and South America (including 

Central America) and does not include Asian Indian. Please specify the name of enrolled or principal tribe (e.g., Navajo, 

Cheyenne, etc.) for the American Indian or Alaska Native. For Asians check Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, 

Vietnamese, or specify other Asian group; for Pacific Islanders check Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan, or specify other 

Pacific Island group. If the decedent was of mixed race, enter each race (e.g., Samoan-Chinese-Filipino or White, American 

Indian). Information in this section will not appear on the certified copy of the death certificate. Race is essential for 

identifying specific mortality patterns and leading causes of death among different racial groups. It is also used to 

determine if specific health programs are needed in particular areas and to make population estimates. 

50 
ITEMS 54 AND 55. OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY 

Questions concerning occupation and industry must be completed for all decedents 14 years of age or older. This information 

is useful in studying deaths related to jobs and in identifying any new risks. For example, the link between lung disease and lung 

cancer and asbestos exposure in jobs such as shipbuilding or construction was made possible by this sort of information on 

death certificates. Information in this section will not appear on the certified copy of the death certificate. 

ITEM 54. DECEDENT’S USUAL OCCUPATION 

Enter the usual occupation of the decedent. This is not necessarily the last occupation of the decedent. Never enter ‘‘retired.’’ 

Give kind of work decedent did during most of his or her working life, such as claim adjuster, farmhand, coal miner, janitor, 

store manager, college professor, or civil engineer. If the decedent was a homemaker at the time of death but had worked outside 

the household during his or her working life, enter that occupation. If the decedent was a homemaker during most of his or her 

working life, and never worked outside the household, enter ‘‘homemaker.’’ Enter ‘‘student’’ if the decedent was a student at the 

time of death and was never regularly employed or employed full time during his or her working life. Information in this 

section will not appear on the certified copy of the death certificate. 

ITEM 55. KIND OF BUSINESS/INDUSTRY 

Enter the kind of business to which the occupation entered in item 54 is related, such as insurance, farming, coal mining, 

hardware store, retail clothing, university, or government. DO NOT enter firm or organization names. If decedent was a 

homemaker as indicated in item 54, then enter either ‘‘own home’’ or ‘‘someone else’s home’’ as appropriate. If decedent was 

a student as indicated in item 54, then enter type of school, such as high school or college, in item 55. Information in this 

section will not appear on the certified copy of the death certificate. 

51 
Appendix B 

Decedent’s Educational Level Selection Card 

Decedent’s Formal Education Level 

What was the highest degree or level of school the decedent COMPLETED? Choose only ONE. If the decedent is currently enrolled, mark the 

previous grade or highest degree received. 

A. 8th grade or less 

B. 9th–12th grade; no diploma 

C. High school graduate or GED completed 

D. Some college credit, but no degree 

E. Associate degree (e.g., AA, AS) 

F. Bachelor’s degree (e.g., BA, AB, BS) 

G. Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA) 

H. Doctorate (e.g., PhD, EdD) or Professional degree (e.g., MD, 

DDS, DVM, LLB, JD) 

52 
Appendix C 

Race and Hispanic Origin Selection Cards 

Decedent’s Hispanic Origin Selection Card 

Please review all the responses below. Please pick the response that best 

describes whether the decedent is Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. Choose the NO 

response if the decedent is not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. 

A. No, Not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino 

B. Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano 

C. Yes, Puerto Rican 

D. Yes, Cuban 

E. Yes, Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino 

If your choice is E. (Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino) please specify. 

Decedent’s Race(s) Selection Card 

Decedent’s Race(s) 

Which item(s) below best describe what race(s) the decedent considered 

himself/herself to be? Select all that apply. 

A. White 

B. Black or African American 

C. American Indian or Alaska Native 

(Name of the enrolled or principal tribe) 

D. Asian Indian 

E. Chinese 

F. Filipino 

G. Japanese 

H. Korean 

I. Vietnamese 

J. Other Asian (Specify) 

K. Native Hawaiian 

L. Guamanian or Chamorro 

M. Samoan 

N. Other Pacific Islander (Specify) 

O. Other (Specify) 

53 
Appendix D 

U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death 

54 
55
Appendix E 

Definitions of Live Birth and Fetal Death 

The following definitions have been adopted by the World Health Organization 

and are recommended for use in the United States. 

Live birth 

Live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of 

human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such 

expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as 

beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of 

voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta 

is attached. Heartbeats are to be distinguished from transient cardiac contractions; respirations are to be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or 

gasps. 

Fetal death 

Fetal death is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother 

of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy and 

that is not an induced termination of pregnancy. The death is indicated by the fact 

that after such expulsion or extraction, the fetus does not breathe or show any 

other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical 

cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles. Heartbeats are to be distinguished from transient cardiac contractions; respirations are to be distinguished 

from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps. 

56 
Appendix F 

The Vital Statistics Registration System in the 

United States 

The registration of births, deaths, fetal deaths, and other vital events in the United 

States is a State and local function.1 The civil laws of every State provide for a 

continuous, permanent, and compulsory vital registration system. Each system 

depends to a very great extent upon the conscientious efforts of the physicians, 

hospital personnel, funeral directors, coroners, and medical examiners in preparing or certifying information needed to complete the original records. For a 

graphic presentation of the registration system, see the accompanying chart, 

‘‘The Vital Statistics Registration System in the United States.’’ 

Most States are divided geographically into local registration districts or units to 

facilitate the collection of vital records. A district may be a township, village, 

town, city, county, or other geographic area or a combination of two or more of 

these areas. In some States, however, the law provides that records of birth, 

death, and/or fetal death be sent directly from the reporting source (hospital, 

physician, or funeral director) to the State vital statistics office. In this system, 

functions normally performed by a local registration official are assumed by the 

staff of the State office. 

In States with a local registrar system, the local registrar collects the records of 

events occurring in his or her area and transmits them to the State vital statistics 

office. The local registrar is required to see that a complete certificate is filed for 

each event occurring in that district. In many States this official also has the duty 

of issuing burial-transit permits to authorize the disposition of dead human 

bodies. In many States this official is also required to keep a file of all events 

occurring within his or her district and, if authorized by State law and subject to 

the restrictions on issuance of copies as specified by the law, may be permitted to 

issue copies of these records. 

1

Vital events are defined as live births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, divorces, and induced terminations of 

pregnancy, together with any change in civil status that may occur during an individual’s lifetime. 

57 
The State vital statistics office inspects each record for promptness of filing, 

completeness, and accuracy of information; queries for missing or inconsistent 

information; numbers the records; prepares indexes; processes the records; and 

stores the documents for permanent reference and safekeeping. Statistical information from the records is tabulated for use by State and local health departments, 

other governmental agencies, and various private and voluntary organizations. 

The data are used to evaluate health problems and to plan programs and services 

for the public. An important function of the State office is to issue certified copies 

of the certificates to individuals in need of such records and to verify the facts of 

birth and death for agencies requiring legal evidence of such facts. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health 

Statistics (NCHS) is vested with the authority for administering the vital statistics 

functions at the national level.2 Electronic data files derived from individual 

records registered in the State offices or, in a few cases, copies of the individual 

records themselves are transmitted to NCHS. From these data, monthly, annual, 

and special statistical reports are prepared for the United States as a whole and 

for the component parts—cities, counties, States, and regions—by various characteristics such as sex, race, and cause of death. These statistics are essential in 

the fields of social welfare, public health, and demography. They are also used 

for various administrative purposes, in both business and government. NCHS 

serves as a focal point, exercising leadership in establishing uniform practices 

through model laws, standard certificate forms, handbooks, and other instructional materials for the continued improvement of the vital statistics system in the 

United States. 

2

Hetzel AM. History and organization of the vital statistics system. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 1997. 

58 
The Vital Statistics Registration System in the United States 

Responsible 

Person or Birth Death Fetal 

Agency Certificate Certificate Death Report 

Hospital authority 1. Completes entire certificate using 

mother and facility worksheets. 

When death occurs in hospital, may 

initiate preparation of certificate: 

1. Completes entire report using patient 

and facility worksheets. 

2. Files certificate with local office 

or State office per State law. 

Completes information on name, date, 

and place of death; obtains certification of 

2. Obtains cause of fetal death from 

physician. 

cause of death from physician; and gives 

certificate to funeral director. 

3. Obtains authorization for final 

disposition of fetus. 

NOTE: If the attending physician is 

unavailable to certify to the cause of 

4. Files report with local office or State 

office per State law. 

death, some States allow a hospital 

physician to certify to only the fact and 

time of death. With legal pronouncement 

of the death and permission of the 

attending physician, the body can then 

be released to the funeral director. The 

attending physician still must complete 

the cause-of-death section prior to final 

disposition of the body. 

Funeral director ⇓ 1. Obtains personal facts about decedent 

and completes certificate. 

2. Obtains certification of cause of death 

from attending physician or medical 

examiner or coroner. 

3. Obtains authorization for final disposition 

per State law. 

4. Files certificate with local office or State 

If fetus is to be buried, the funeral director 

is responsible for obtaining authorization 

for final disposition. 

NOTE: In some States, the funeral 

director, or person acting as such, is 

responsible for all duties shown under 

hospital authority. 

office per State law. 

Physician or other 

professional attendant 

For inhospital birth, verifies accuracy 

of medical information and signs 

Completes certification of cause of death 

and signs certificate. 

Provides cause of fetal death and 

information not available from the medical 

certificate. For out-of-hospital birth, 

duties are same as those for hospital 

records. 

authority, shown above. 

59 
Local office* (may be local 

registrar or city or county 

1. Verifies completeness and 

accuracy of certificate and queries 

1. Verifies completeness and accuracy of 

certificate and queries incomplete or 

If State law requires routing of fetal death 

reports through local office, performs the 

health department) incomplete or inconsistent certificates. 

2. If authorized by State law, makes 

inconsistent certificates. 

2. If authorized by State law, makes copy 

same functions as shown for the birth and 

death certificate. 

copy or index for local use. 

3. Sends certificates to State registrar. 

or index for local use. 

3. If authorized by State law, issues 

authorization for final disposition on receipt 

of completed certificate. 

4. Sends certificates to State registrar. 

City and county health 

departments 

1. Use data derived from these records in allocating medical and nursing services. 

2. Follow up on infectious diseases. 

3. Plan programs. 

4. Measure effectiveness of services. 

5. Conduct research studies. 

State registrar, office of vital 

statistics 

1. Queries incomplete or inconsistent information. 

2. Maintains files for permanent reference and is the source of certified copies. 

3. Develops vital statistics for use in planning, evaluating, and administering State and local health activities and for research 

studies. 

4. Compiles health-related statistics for State and civil divisions of State for use of the health department and other agencies 

and groups interested in the fields of medical science, public health, demography, and social welfare. 

5. Sends data for all events filed to the National Center for Health Statistics. 

National Center for Health 

Statistics, Centers for 

Disease Control and 

Prevention 

1. Evaluates quality of State vital statistics data and works with States to assure quality. 

2. Compiles national statistical data file and runs edits to fully process data. 

3. Prepares and publishes national statistics of births, deaths, and fetal deaths; constructs the official U.S. life tables and related 

actuarial tables. 

4. Conducts health and social research studies based on vital records and on sampling surveys linked to records. 

5. Conducts research and methodological studies in vital statistics methods, including the technical, administrative, and legal 

aspects of vital records registration and administration. 

6. Maintains a continuing technical assistance program to improve the quality and usefulness of vital statistics. 

7. Provides leadership and coordination in the development of standard certificates and report and model laws. 

* Some States do not have local vital registration offices. In these States, the certificates or reports are transmitted directly to the State office of vital 

statistics. 

60