A death certificate can be essential when it is necessary to settle the financial and legal affairs of a relative. Transactions involving insurance benefits, real estate and wills will be delayed or derailed if a proper certificate cannot be obtained or is lost or otherwise inaccessible. These delays can be costly and stressful for all concerned.

Information on the document may continue to be important years later. For example the cause of death may be a clue to the health problems of a grandchild of the deceased. If the condition is one that is rare but hereditary, especially if it skips generations the grandparent’s health information could be exceptionally important.

However a death certificate, sometimes known as a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death or MCCD, can contain much information that could be important years, or even centuries, after someone has died. People who are trying to trace their family tree will discover that some of the most vital information they find will come from death certificates.

The date of death recorded on the MCCD can tell you whether or not you have indeed found the person you were looking for. Suppose you obtain a death certificate for someone with the right name and date of birth who bought a farm in 1855 and had a son born in 1856. If the date of death is given as 1854 you may decide you have the wrong John Q. Doe III and begin to search elsewhere.

When you do find the MCCD for the right person you will find it useful in making further connections. For example the certificate will usually give the names of the deceased’s parents. This is a gold mine for a genealogy buff who has gone back as far as she can and hit a wall.

Usually information about the individual’s marital status will be noted including the name of the spouse. Even if you already know the name of the husband or wife this additional document may include a more legible signature or improved spelling. The certificate will indicate the maiden name of the wife of the deceased and also that of his mother.

The name of an “informant” is usually included on these documents. This person is the one who was present at the time of death. If it is not the spouse the name may provide clues to another branch of the family. For example if the name is that of a daughter-in-law you may discover a connection to a family you previously had no knowledge of.

Obtaining a death certificate online from a genealogy website is often the most efficient way to acquire this information. Rather than going in person or contacting by mail the various appropriate county offices you could make your request and have it answered by Email. Genealogy sites often have people who can help you find the documents you need if you don’t know the exact location or the precise date of the death.

Get the super inside scoop on how to obtain a death certificate online now in our complete death certificate overview.