Recommendations for Completing Paperwork
|
On This Page
|
Completing the Death Certificate
Under New Hampshire law RSA 290:1, a death certificate may be filed by the deceased’s next of kin, a designated agent, or a funeral director. This must be accomplished electronically within 36 hours of death, and followed with the original paperwork within 10 days. If the death occurs during a period when the Town Clerk’s office is closed, such as holidays and weekends, and the family is acting as their own funeral director, either the Town Clerk in the town or city of record where the death occurred must agree to help file, or a funeral director must be hired specifically to file electronically.
Obtaining and Filling Out the Death Certificate:
Getting the Death Certificate Signed by a Medical Authority
Filing the Death Certificate
The death certificate must be filed electronically by 1) the Town Clerk in the town where the death occurs, or 2) by a funeral director who has direct access if the Town Clerk is unavailable, or 3) in person at the Office of Vital Records, Division of Secretary of State, in Concord, within 36 hours; electronic filing must be followed by physical paperwork within 10 days;
Burial/Transit Permit
A burial/transit permit will be generated by the Town Clerk or Vital Statistics personnel once the electronic report has been filed. This form enables the family (if named on the form) to transport the body home, to a church or other space, and to the crematory or cemetery. The cemetery authority will sign the form, which must then be filed with the Town within 6 days of the burial. Make copies for your records.
Authorization to Cremate
This form must be signed by the next-of-kin, giving the crematory permission to cremate the body. A Medical Examiner is required to release the body for cremation, burial at sea, body donation, or to cremate in another state. If you cremation another state, you must have a NH Medical Examiner view the body and provide the certificate. Call the Chief Medical Examiner's office for a referral to an ME in your county to schedule a review after the death has occurred. You will be responsible for sending in a copy of the form and the $60 fee. Bring the death certificate and transit permit, along with the cremation certificate, with the body to the crematory. In New Hampshire, there is a 48-hour waiting period required between the time of death and the cremation.
Obtaining and Filling Out the Death Certificate:
- A completed and signed death certificate must be obtained from the physician, hospice nurse, Medical Examiner, Attending Physician, and/or other qualified authority who pronounces the death and authorizes cause of death on the medical portion of the death certificate;
- The next-of-kin or designated agent completes the demographic portion;
- If a funeral director is hired, he or she will complete the demographic portion using information provided by the family;
- The next-of-kin or the designated agent, if acting as the funeral director, will sign as the FD;
- The form must be filled out as specified, with no cross-outs or white-outs;
- Every box must be completed, including NA or N/A;
- Make a copy for your records.
Getting the Death Certificate Signed by a Medical Authority
- Physicians must certify the medical portion of the death certificate within 24 hours of the death. It is up to the filing party to locate and obtain that signature.
- Families of patients who have been on hospice service may be assisted by the attending hospice nurse in locating and obtaining the physician's signature.
- A Note About Unattended Deaths: If the person is not on hospice service but death outside a medical setting is anticipated, the likelihood of a death investigation can be reduced by contacting the primary care provider in advance to confirm their ability to certify the death based on known health conditions.
Filing the Death Certificate
The death certificate must be filed electronically by 1) the Town Clerk in the town where the death occurs, or 2) by a funeral director who has direct access if the Town Clerk is unavailable, or 3) in person at the Office of Vital Records, Division of Secretary of State, in Concord, within 36 hours; electronic filing must be followed by physical paperwork within 10 days;
- Depending on the day of death, the paperwork may have to wait until after the weekend or a holiday, when offices are open; or your Town Clerk, having been apprised of an impending death, may agree to help you file during off-hours;
- The final disposition by burial must be reported to the Town Clerk within 6 days with completed paperwork; and
- Certified copies will be available on demand at the Town Clerk’s office at a price of $15 for the first and $10 for each subsequent copy; needed for Social Security, veteran’s benefits, banks, insurance, credit cards, credit report companies, and other purposes.
Burial/Transit Permit
A burial/transit permit will be generated by the Town Clerk or Vital Statistics personnel once the electronic report has been filed. This form enables the family (if named on the form) to transport the body home, to a church or other space, and to the crematory or cemetery. The cemetery authority will sign the form, which must then be filed with the Town within 6 days of the burial. Make copies for your records.
Authorization to Cremate
This form must be signed by the next-of-kin, giving the crematory permission to cremate the body. A Medical Examiner is required to release the body for cremation, burial at sea, body donation, or to cremate in another state. If you cremation another state, you must have a NH Medical Examiner view the body and provide the certificate. Call the Chief Medical Examiner's office for a referral to an ME in your county to schedule a review after the death has occurred. You will be responsible for sending in a copy of the form and the $60 fee. Bring the death certificate and transit permit, along with the cremation certificate, with the body to the crematory. In New Hampshire, there is a 48-hour waiting period required between the time of death and the cremation.
New Hampshire Death Certificate Timeline for Home Funeral Families
Authority to Make Arrangements
Recommendations:
The next-of-kin or a designated agent have the right to handle all aspects of after-death care. This means that families can legally care for and transport a body, keep it in their home for a viewing period, and take it for final disposition themselves, without hiring a licensed funeral director, except for any details the family wishes to have done by a funeral home.
According to NH RSA 290:16, the authority to make all arrangements follows this order:
a) designated agent or spouse;
b) an adult son or daughter;
c) a parent; d) an adult brother or sister;
e-k) other relations.
If there is no spouse and there are multiple adult children, signatures from the majority or all will be required.
In the event that the decedent and/or the family prefer that someone outside the family oversee funeral arrangements and complete the necessary paperwork, they may appoint a designated agent to carry out their wishes on their behalf. This is accomplished by signing a Special Power of Attorney for Designated Agent form. Limitations and responsibilities are described in that document.
- Complete and file all advance directives, including Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAH).
- Assign a family member, friend, or other designated agent to carry out all funeral arrangements.
The next-of-kin or a designated agent have the right to handle all aspects of after-death care. This means that families can legally care for and transport a body, keep it in their home for a viewing period, and take it for final disposition themselves, without hiring a licensed funeral director, except for any details the family wishes to have done by a funeral home.
According to NH RSA 290:16, the authority to make all arrangements follows this order:
a) designated agent or spouse;
b) an adult son or daughter;
c) a parent; d) an adult brother or sister;
e-k) other relations.
If there is no spouse and there are multiple adult children, signatures from the majority or all will be required.
In the event that the decedent and/or the family prefer that someone outside the family oversee funeral arrangements and complete the necessary paperwork, they may appoint a designated agent to carry out their wishes on their behalf. This is accomplished by signing a Special Power of Attorney for Designated Agent form. Limitations and responsibilities are described in that document.
Obtaining Official Copies of the Death Certificate
Once the death certificate is electronically filed, certified copies may be obtained at any Town Clerk's office throughout the state. Certified copies may be needed to settle the affairs of the deceased (for example, for insurance or benefit claims, to close accounts). For information about fees and how to order, go to Vital Statistics.
Notifications and Benefits
Newspapers
Families may file obituaries and memorial notices. A newspaper may ask to see a death certificate and many newspapers charge a fee for publishing an obituary. (See NH Newspaper Obituary Requirements.)
Military and Veterans Benefits
Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs for information on benefits, or visit http://www.cem.va.gov/ for online information. Among other things, you may be entitled to a U.S. flag from the Post Office, to be used at a memorial service, by presenting a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of military service. You may also qualify for a free gravesite in a VA cemetery. Toll-free: 800-827-1000.
Social Security Benefits
To obtain Social Security Administration information, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
The office in Littleton https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/Controller can be called at:
Local Number (603) 444-2945
Toll-Free 1-800-772-1213
TTY(603) 444-4028
Check out http://www.funeralwise.com/learn/arrange/benefits for more info on Social Security and VA benefits.
Families may file obituaries and memorial notices. A newspaper may ask to see a death certificate and many newspapers charge a fee for publishing an obituary. (See NH Newspaper Obituary Requirements.)
Military and Veterans Benefits
Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs for information on benefits, or visit http://www.cem.va.gov/ for online information. Among other things, you may be entitled to a U.S. flag from the Post Office, to be used at a memorial service, by presenting a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of military service. You may also qualify for a free gravesite in a VA cemetery. Toll-free: 800-827-1000.
Social Security Benefits
To obtain Social Security Administration information, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
The office in Littleton https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/Controller can be called at:
Local Number (603) 444-2945
Toll-Free 1-800-772-1213
TTY(603) 444-4028
Check out http://www.funeralwise.com/learn/arrange/benefits for more info on Social Security and VA benefits.
