What areas of a death certificate cannot be corrected with an affidavit?
3. What should a funeral home do when an affidavit cannot be used to correct an item? A new death certificate is required. 4. When is it necessary for a Funeral Home to go to the State Vital Statistics Office for death certificates? One: Amendments • When the “A” copy of the death certificate has already been mailed to the State Vital Statistics Office. • Call the local health department where the death certificate was filed and see if the “A” copy has been mailed. Corrections can only be made on the “A” copy. • Two: Five Year Rule • Each Health Department is required to keep part B of the Death Certificate for five years from the date of filing. • Beyond the five years; a funeral home will have to go to the State Vital Statistics Office. 5. What should a Funeral Home do when the physician signs the death certificate in blue ink and refuses to sign in black ink? Effective July 1, 2008, the Code of Virginia was amended so that physicians have the ability to sign in dark blue ink. § 32.1
