Forms & Guides

Social Security

Phone: (800) 772-1213

Hours: 7:00am to 7:00pm, Monday - Friday

Website: http://www.ssa.gov

Veteran’s Resources

Veteran’s Administration

Website: http://www.va.gov

Regional Veteran’s Administration Office

8810 Rio San Diego Drive

San Diego, CA 90218

Phone: (619) 400-5000

San Diego Veteran’s Services

5560 Overland Avenue

Suite 310

San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: (858) 694-3222

Fax: (858) 505-6921

Death Certificates

Certified copies of death certificates are obtained from the county in which the death occurs.

San Diego County Health Department

3851 Rosecrans Street

Suite 802

San Diego, CA 92110

Phone: (619) 692-5733

Website: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov

Vital Records: http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/birthdeath_certificates.aspx

San Diego County Medical Examiner

Website: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/me/families/familygen.html

California Dept. of Consumer Affairs

1625 North Market Blvd.

Suite S-208

Sacramento, CA 95834

Phone: (916) 574-7870

Website: http://www.cfb.ca.gov/

Please bring as many items as you can to the arrangement conference. This well help make the process as smooth as possible for you and your family.

Advanced Health Care Directive or Durable Power of Attorney for Health - We will need this if you are not the legal next of kin

Social Security Number or Social Security Card - We will notify the Social Security Administration of the death of your loved one on your behalf. We also need the social security number for the death certificate.

Vital Statistics - We will need information about you and your loved one. This includes: your loved one's birthdate, address, birth state/country, education level, if they were ever in the Armed Forces, their mother's first, middle & maiden name, father's first, middle & last name, each parent's state/country of birth, as well as your name and address. 

DD-214 Discharge Papers - If your loved one was in the military, we will need their honorable discharge papers.

Here is a list of items you and your family might want to include in your loved one's obituary:

Name (Given/Full Name, Nickname, AKA, Surname, etc.)

Age

Residence of (City or County)

Years in Area

Date of Death

Place of Death

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

Father’s Full Name

Mother’s Maiden Name

Education (Schools /Majors/Degrees)

Career/Profession

Companies

Married to

Marriage Date

Accomplishments/Awards

Hobbies/Interests

Life Events (e.g. Special Occasions, Milestones, Community Life, Important Events)

Preceded in Death By (Immediate Family)

Survived By

Memorial/Funeral Services at

Memorial/Funeral Service Day

Memorial/Funeral Service Date

Memorial/Funeral Service Time

Place of Interment

Memorial Contributions to

Death Certificate Information

The following information is needed for the State of California Death Certificate and must be accurate.

A birth certificate, marriage certificate or Veterans form VA DD214 discharge-separation form may provide some or the required information.

1. First Name of deceased (legally as listed on birth certificate or passport)

2. Middle Name (legally as listed on birth certificate or passport)

3. Last Name (legal married name, if single - as listed on birth certificate)

4. AKA (Also known as any other names for legal purposes)

5. Date of Birth - (mm/dd/yyyy)

6. Current Age

7. Sex - male or female

8. State of Birth - if foreign country, then birth country

9. Social Security Number

10. Military Service - Yes or No

11. Branch of Military Service

12. Military - year entered and year discharged

13. Marital Status - Married, Never Married, Divorced, SRDP or Widowed

14. Education - list highest degree earned or # of years completed

15. Race - White, Black, American Indian, East Indian, Asian, etc.

16. Primary Occupation (during working life)

17. Kind of Business (during working life) as relates to kind of business

18. Number of Years in Occupation (during working life) accumulative

19. Current Residence Address (number and street only) No P.O. Box

20. City of Residence

21. County of Residence

22. Zip Code

23. Number of Years Lived in County of Residence

24. State of Residence

25. First Name of Surviving Spouse 

26. Middle Name of Surviving Spouse

27. Last Name (if surviving husband) or Maiden Name (if surviving wife)

28. Father's First Name (of deceased)

29. Father's Middle Name

30. Father's Last Name

31. Father's State of Birth (or country if outside USA)

32. Mother's First Name (of deceased)

33. Mother's Middle Name

34. Mother’s Maiden Last Name

35. Mother's State of Birth (or country if other than USA)

36. Name of Attending Physician

37. Disposition (Burial or Cremation)

38. Name of Cemetery where you have or will purchase property

39. Cemetery City & State

40. Cemetery Phone Number

Informant's Information

The informant is the person responsible for or designated by the family to handle the affairs of the deceased. This person is recorded on the Death Certificate as the responsible party.

1. First Name

2. Middle Initial

3. Last Name

4. Relationship (to the person you are making arrangements for)

5. Mailing Address

6. City of Residence

7. State and Zip Code of Residence

8. Phone Number (include Area Code)

Certified Copies of the Death Certificate may be required for the following transactions: 

-The transfer of an individual checking account or a joint checking account if it is in the name of more than one person without “or” “and/or” appearing in the account’s ownership

-Transfer of an individual savings account of a joint savings account if it is not an “and/or” account

-Transfer of an individual safe deposit box or a safe deposit box in the name of other parties unless the ownership is taken as “or”

-Transfer of each title of real estate ownership. This applies to property with the title taken as “Joint Tenancy with the Right of Survivorship.”

-Transfer of each title of ownership for all registered motor vehicles. (Multiple manes on the title does not apply if the work “or” “and/or” appears on the title between the manes of the registered owners.)

-One for each life insurance policy claim. (If there are multiple policies with one single company, a separate certified copy of the death certificate may be required for each policy number.)

-One for each claim for burial or funeral insurance plan.

-One for each death benefit claim from a union.

-Transfer of ownership of stock. One Death Certificate for each transaction of the stock that is sold or transferred separately.

-Transfer or redemption of bonds.

-Transfer or redemption of Treasury Bills (T-Bills).

-Transfer or redemption of Certificates of Deposits (CD’S).

-Transfer or redemption of money market accounts.

-To roll-over an IRA account.

-Federal and State Tax Returns