In difficult days, dealing with documents can feel like a burden – in reality it comes down to a few papers, and the process follows a well-worn path. This article goes through the most important document and the tasks built around it, at a calm pace.
- The death certificate is issued by the registrar, based on the medical examination documents.
- The funeral service provider typically helps with this process too – this is standard, accepted practice.
- The insurer typically needs the certificate, the policy details, and identification of the beneficiary – more in the case of an accident.
The death certificate
The registrar records the fact of death and issues a certificate for it – this is the official document that the insurer, the bank, and most authorities will ask for. Registration requires the medical examination documents and the deceased’s personal papers; the funeral service provider typically helps with or takes over this process too – it’s worth asking. You can request several original copies or certified copies; in practice several places will ask for one, so it doesn’t hurt to have an extra copy.
The deceased’s documents
Identity documents (ID card, passport, driving licence) must be handed in after a death, or are invalidated – the registrar and the relevant authorities can give exact guidance on the process. The insurance matter typically doesn’t need these, but rather the policy details: the policy number and the insurer’s name. If the family followed the one-folder principle, everything is together; if not, the policy number can also be looked up with the insurer.
What else the insurer may ask for
The typical basic package: a claim notification form, the death certificate, a medical document confirming the cause of death, and the beneficiary’s identification documents and bank account number. In the case of an accidental death, official documents may also be needed (such as a police report) – in these cases the process can take somewhat longer. The insurer provides the exact list when the claim is filed – there’s no need to worry about it in advance.
If a document is missing or delayed
A missing document isn’t a dead end: the claim can be started with what you have, and the rest can be provided later – the insurer will state exactly what’s still needed in a request for additional documents. A certificate can be replaced, and a medical document can also be obtained afterwards. If a case seems to be stuck for reasons related to documents, the article on common hold-ups can help – and my clients’ families can also bring me in.
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