A death certificate is an official document, often referred to as a vital record, that states the details of a particular person’s death. It usually contains details of the deceased’s identification, cause of death, and location of death.
In the State of California, a death certificate is issued by the county official where the person died. The California Secretary of State issues death certificates for use in foreign countries, providing US-issued death certificates as legal certification required by many foreign countries.
Provide a US-issued death certificate abroad
Apostille death certificates in California will be recognized in foreign countries, because they are sealed and stamped. These certificates are often required for several reasons:
- Married again – When a widow or widower wants to remarry in a foreign country, the confiscated death certificate will be one of the documents required to be submitted.
- Get retirement benefits – It meets local and international requirements, and the death certificate is a necessary document for the claim.
- Claim life insurance – If you are a surviving family member or beneficiary of foreign life insurance, an insured death certificate is required.
- Define plantation – To legally manage and distribute the estates of the deceased in foreign countries. Financial institutions like banks, courts, and other entities will require a foreclosed death certificate to release funds, transfer property, and settle debts.
- Transport agency – To make arrangements for the burial or cremation of the remains of the deceased in a foreign country.
How do I get an Apostille in California?
First, you need to check that the place of death is in the state of California. If the person dies in another country, you need to get a death certificate there. County or State officials will issue a death certificate.
There are two types of death certificates, and it’s important to know the difference because they serve different purposes.
Unrestricted Death Certificate and Information
Only unrestricted county-certified death certificates can be apostilled. California law specifies certain individuals who can obtain a death certificate indefinitely from a deceased person. It can be a parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the deceased.
The California Secretary of State does not issue apostilles for informational death certificates even if they are considered certified copies, they will have a legend on the front of the document with the statement, “Information, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity.”
Requirements for Apostille
You must have an original or certified copy of the death certificate. You can get it through the Vital Records Department of the state where the deceased died.
Next will contact the Secretary of State to request the apostille. If you find these requirements challenging, Rush In Documentation Center’s apostille service in Los Angeles is available to assist you.
Steps in Obtaining an Apostille
The steps to get an apostille death certificate are quite simple. It only takes 3 main steps. Although it can be troublesome and time-consuming when you have to retrieve documents when you are grieving, you may choose to get these services out of a trusted provider.
Here’s what to do:
- Secure an unofficial and unrestricted copy of the death certificate.
- Contact the office of the Secretary of State and pass the certificate issued by the district.
- Waiting for your apostille. Before it is issued, the Secretary of State’s office will verify the validity of your certificate.
Get Help for Apostille Death Certificate
A loss in the family can be devastating and the last thing you want to do when you’re grieving and grieving is working on a paper.
A grieving family may not have the time and effort to process these requirements now, given the loss they are currently experiencing. Thus, seeking professional help would be the best option.
There are several companies that offer apostille services like Rush In Documentation Center.
Rush in Documentation Center provides complete Apostille Document Legalization Services in the US and at various embassies. They have been a recommended service provider since 1994 and are the only licensed, bonded, and insured case handling specialists. They assure you of 3 main things – speed, quality, and reasonable price.
For countries that have signed the Hague Convention, an apostille is sufficient to issue. However, countries that are not members of this convention require some other steps to legalize the document and a consular visit will be required to validate the document.
Having said that, you may need a document translation service in Los Angeles to process further requirements in the non-Hague countries mentioned earlier.
Are you willing to take these extra steps or would you consider outsourcing the service to a professional? Knowing that there is an expedited service available to you in California, with a wait of up to 5 hours, you can send your documents quickly.
