Written by this site from official U.S. sources

After a family member dies, order several certified copies of the death certificate from the state vital records office and make sure Social Security knows

Moderate value
Evidence B
Saves time
Costs a little
Takes some hours
No willpower

Sources not yet checked word by word; rely on the official pages

In plain words

Death certificates come from the vital records office of the state where the person died. You can usually order certified copies online, by mail or in person, and the state sets the price. Order several, because banks, insurers and agencies may each want one. A funeral home usually tells Social Security about the death. Ask the funeral home whether it has. Family members may be able to get monthly survivor benefits, and a surviving spouse or child may get a one-time $255 payment.

Cost: Each certified copy costs a fee set by the state. Expect a few hours of calls and forms.
What you get: USA.gov: "Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred" to learn how to order a certified copy online, by mail or in person, how to get one fast, and the cost of each copy. You need the date and place of death. For a U.S. citizen who dies abroad, the Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA) is used: "You can get up to 20 free certified copies at the time of death." Social Security: "A funeral home will usually tell us when someone dies, so you may not need to report a death to us." "Survivor benefits provide monthly payments to eligible family members of people who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died." A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 can be paid to a surviving spouse or child who meets certain requirements.
Notes: Copies and fees are handled by each state, so the steps and prices vary. The $255 figure is not on the checked page; it comes from general knowledge. Written from general knowledge of U.S. rules; the cited official page could not be opened for word-by-word checking.
Evidence grade: B: Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
Sources: USA.gov. How to get a copy of a death certificate. https://www.usa.gov/death-certificate
Social Security Administration. Survivor benefits. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ （核对的是 web.archive.org 2026年9月29日的存档）

Sources checked 2026-10-12

Replaces in the original

The death certificate is the key to everything that follows: whoever treated the person issues it; for a normal death at home, go to the community health service institution, which issues it within one day

Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you.