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In depth
A death certificate is a vital record that certifies a death — the name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, and the informant's information. It may be required for CBD cases to confirm that the ancestor is deceased.
For CBD cases, death certificates are typically required for the anchor ancestor and for any deceased person in the citizenship chain. Some authorities (Italian consulates) require death certificates for all deceased ancestors.
Death certificates are issued by the civil registry office of the place where the death occurred. For ancestors who died abroad, the death certificate must be apostilled (or legalized) and translated.
Related terms
A vital record is a government-recorded document that certifies a vital event — birth, marriage, divorce, or death — and is the primary evidence in CBD cases.
A marriage certificate is a vital record that certifies a marriage, required for CBD cases to establish the legitimacy of the descent line.
A long-form birth certificate is a detailed birth certificate that includes the child's and parents' full information, required for most CBD applications.
A short-form birth certificate is a simplified birth certificate showing only the child's basic information, typically not accepted for CBD applications.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been verified as a true and accurate copy by the issuing authority, typically required for CBD applications.
A divorce decree is a court order that dissolves a marriage, sometimes required for CBD cases involving remarriages in the citizenship chain.