What do I do if the wrong county is written on my mother’s Death Certificate?
From our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: Correcting an Error on a Death Certificate
Most Recently Updated July 20, 2018.
My mother became ill and came to my house in Bucks County. Two weeks later, she died. In the rush to get things done, I didn’t notice that the funeral director mistakenly put Bucks County as her residence rather than Collier County, Florida. Her will gives everything to me, does it matter if I file the will in Bucks County? How do I correct the death certificate?
Correcting an Error on a Death Certificate
Correcting an Error on a Death Certificate
The county listed on the death certificate does matter, as the Register of Wills of Bucks County and the Surrogate in Collier County will use the death certificate as proof of what County your mother resided in at death. This matters to you because if she was a resident of Collier County, Florida, there is no Inheritance Tax. If she was a resident of Bucks County, there is a 4.5% Inheritance Tax on what you inherit (excluding her Florida real estate).
If the funeral director has already turned the death certificate over to the Department of Vital Records, you will have to work with them to have the certificate corrected. They are reasonable people, but they will want information proving that your mother was really a Florida resident.
More Probate Questions?
Correcting a death certificate is only part of the overall probate process. By all means, if you wish to learn more, please read my more detailed article, The Probate Process All You Need to Know.
In Conclusion: Correcting an Error on a Death Certificate
I hope that this article was helpful in explaining why and how to correct and error on a death certificate. Further, I included links to even more detailed information on my website. Therefore, please contact me and let me know how I did. Certainly, your comments and questions are welcome!
Let our Probate Lawyers help walk you through what can be a confusing process. To begin with, call to speak to one of our experienced Probate Attorneys. By all means, our lawyers are ready to answer your questions. In fact, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. Ultimately our goal is to make the process as painless as possible!
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