Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York

A non-relative would need a death certificate for probate matters and also non-probate matters. If the non-relative would stand to inherit under a will or as a beneficiary in an account at a financial institution, then a death certificate is required to prove that the person is deceased to inherit assets/money.

There are many legitimate reasons, and many false ones also, the latter leading to possible identity theft. Usually the issuing authority restricts the issuance to family members uness a good cause reason exists. Juliet poses some of the valid reasons a non-relative might need one.