Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Alabama
Are obituaries legal documents? Does the obituaries have same statue as a death certificate? Can it be use in place of a death certificate for verification of death?
Asked on 2/26/10, 7:52 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
William Nolan
Nolan Elder Law LLC
No. Although most papers these days require proof of death prior to running an obit, they will accept a call from the funeral home as authentication, rather than having to provide a death certificate, which might take weeks to obtain. An obit is not legal or binding. The only way you can prove death is with a certified death certificate.
Answered on 3/03/10, 10:08 am