Death Certificate Calculator
Most families either order two and spend weeks reordering, or order twenty and waste the money. Answer six short questions and get a sensible starting number, with the reasoning shown.
How many banks or credit unions held an account?
Include joint accounts. Each institution usually wants its own certified copy.
0
How many life insurance policies are there?
0
How many brokerage or retirement accounts?
0
How many titled properties or vehicles?
Homes, land, cars, boats, anything with a title or deed to transfer.
0
How many employer, pension or benefit claims?
0
Is probate or estate court likely?
How that number is built
- Probate unlikely: 1 copy held back
- 2 spare copies, because reordering takes days you may not have
Many institutions accept a scan or photocopy, and some return the original after recording it.
Fees, ordering rules and who is allowed to request copies vary by state and county. Ask the first two institutions what they actually need before ordering a large batch.