Sunset needs one copy of the death certificate, uploaded as a photo or PDF. You keep the physical copies, and you never mail anything to us.
You'll also upload a photo of your own government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, so we can confirm your identity. Both are validated instantly and automatically, so you'll know within moments whether they went through.
What Counts as a Certified Death Certificate
A certified copy is issued by a government vital records office, meaning a state, county, or city agency. It includes:
Certification language identifying it as an official copy
The registrar's signature
An official seal, either raised or printed, depending on the state
Complete death information, including full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death
Hospital printouts, funeral home invoices, obituaries, and cremation certificates are not death certificates and can't be used.
Formats vary by state. Some, including Georgia's, come on plain white paper with no raised seal and are completely valid. Our article on what counts as an original death certificate covers this in more detail.
How to Upload
Log in to your Sunset account
Select the option to upload the death certificate
Either photograph it with your phone or choose an existing PDF or image
Check the preview and confirm every part is readable, including the seal, the full name, both dates, and the registrar's signature
Submit
Upload a PDF or any common image format, including JPG, PNG, and HEIC from an iPhone. Keep files under 10MB, and include every page if your state issues a multi-page certificate.
Getting a Clear Photo
Since this single upload is what we send to institutions, it's worth getting a clean one.
Lay the certificate flat and smooth out any folds
Place it on a dark surface for contrast
Use bright, even light, ideally near a window
Turn the flash off, since it causes glare that can obscure text
Turn off Live Photo on iPhone
Hold the phone directly above the document, not at an angle
Tap to focus before shooting, and keep all four corners in frame
If there's a raised seal, angled light helps it show up. Take a few photos and use the sharpest.
What We Do With It
When Sunset contacts financial institutions on your behalf, we send a verified digital copy of the certificate. We work with over 2,500 partner institutions, and they accept a digital certificate from us rather than demanding a physical certified original.
This is why families using Sunset need so few certified copies. Your originals stay in your hands.
How Many Certified Copies Should You Own?
Sunset doesn't consume any, so the number depends entirely on what else you're doing. You may need certified copies for probate court filings, DMV vehicle title transfers, real estate transfers, or survivor benefits from Social Security or the VA.
For most families, two or three covers it, and some need fewer. The old advice to order 10 or 20 assumed every bank would take an original and keep it, which is rarely how it works now.
Order on the higher end if there's real property in several states or you're dealing with multiple courts at once. Our article on ordering a death certificate has state-by-state fees.
Troubleshooting
The upload fails or hangs
Refresh and try again. Reduce the file size if it's over 10MB, rename the file to something simple without special characters, and try a different browser if it persists.
You uploaded the wrong file
Just upload the correct one. It replaces the previous version automatically.
You don't have a certified copy yet
Order one from the vital records office in the state where the death occurred, not where your loved one lived or is buried. Funeral homes can often order on your behalf, and most counties can be ordered from online through VitalChek.
Need Help?
If you're not sure your document qualifies, send it to us and we'll tell you before you spend money on a replacement.
Chat with us in the app, call (385) 707-0082, or email [email protected]. We reply to email within one business day.