IF YOU ARE ACTING AS THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR:
If death is unexpected:
A medical examiner must be notified. Call 911 or your local law enforcement agency. If an autopsy is required, tell the coroner to call you when the body is released.

Hospice, hospital, nursing home or at home expected to die:
Make sure everybody understands that the decedent wants a green burial, and has designated you to handle the burial, acting as a funeral director. Once this is understood by all, they'll help you do what is required.

Call decedent's doctor's office. If the cause of death is from natural causes, get the name of the person contacted at the physician's office who provided assurance that the physician would complete and sign the medical certification of death on the certificate and the date he/she was contacted. When speaking with the physician or staff in his/her office there are three questions that should be asked. 1.) Will the physician sign the death certificate? 2.) Will the physician be available to sign the medical certification within 72 hours after presented by the acting funeral director? 3.) Is there any reason this death should be reported to the medical examiner for investigation?

The Bureau of Vital Statistics in the county of death will issue a death certificate and a burial-transit permit. You'll need to know the following for the bureau's registrar, who will help you fill out the death certificate. The record must be typewritten in black ink. 
•	Decedent's name (First, Middle, Last)
•	Sex of decedent, and age.
•	Date of birth (Month, Day, Year)
•	Date of Death (Month, Day, Year)
•	Social security number
•	Birthplace. ( City and State, county (or Foreign Country)
•	Place of death
•	City, town, or location of death
•	Marital Status and surviving spouse (If wife, given maiden name)
•	Residence of decedent (state, county, city, town, or location; street address)
•	Occupation and industry of decedent
•	Decedent's race (Specify the race/races to indicate what the decedent considered himself/herself to be. More than one race can be specified)
•	Decedent's education
•	Was decedent ever in the U. S. Armed Forces?
•	Father's and mother's names (First, Middle, Last)
•	Informant's name, address, and relationship to the decedent
•	Place of final disposition (name of cemetery, or other place) and location therein.

© Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve 2005 / 2012