2010 Death Amendment Rules Refresher Training Death Amendment Rules Refresher Office of the State Registrar

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 2 Within 45 Days and Before Issuance  Informant or entity that filed death record may request an amendment  Amendment is limited to corrections of information originally recorded in error or the provision of missing information

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 1 Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Requesting an Amendment  Any person may request an amendment to a death record  Amendment requests to demographic information can be made through the funeral director, informant, local or state registrar; but only the local or registrar can amend the record  Refer amendment requests to cause of death information to the State Registrar.

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 3 Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Amending through the Funeral Establishment  Must be within one year of the date of death  Informant must give written approval to the requested amendment  Registrar amends record upon receipt of written request from the funeral establishment

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 4 Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Amending through the Informant  Must be within the first year after death  Must present to the registrar a notarized statement to amend  Statement from the informant must attest: he/she is the informant named on the original documentation of death; requested amendment is accurate; and he/she agrees to the requested amendment.

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 5 Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Amending through a local registrar  Must be within five years of a death  Must use the application to request an amend  Amendment is limited to change in name, date of death, place of death, date of birth, parentage, spouse’s name, maiden name, marital status, SSN or sex  Must present acceptable documentation

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 5 Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Review Documentation Carefully  Legible  No Erasures or alterations  Source & Date  Original or Authenticated

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 5, item B Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Acceptable documents:  Birth record  Marriage certificate  Divorce decree  Legal description of the place of death as recorded with the county recorder  Social Security Number (SSN) history from SSA  Notarized statement from a person who was present at the death (date or place of death)  Court order that instructs a registrar to make the requested change

Death Record Amendments Minnesota Rules, part , subparts 5 and 6 Amending After 45 days OR Issuance Refer to the state registrar if:  More than five years have elapsed from the date of death  The requested amendment is to non- demographic information  The person requesting amendment cannot provide acceptable documentation  The item to be amended has been previously amended

2010 Death Amendment Rules Refresher Training FEES

Fees for Death Amendments Minnesota Statutes, section , subd. 1, paragraph (d)  There is no fee if the request for an amendment is made within 45 days of filing  The fee is $40.00 for amendment requests made more than 45 days after filing

Fees for Death Certificates Minnesota Statutes, section , subd, 1, paragraph (a) Minnesota Rules, part , subpart 6, item A If the certificate to be amended is surrendered:  There is no fee if the surrendered death certificate was issued less than one year ago  There is a $4 fee for deaths if the surrendered death certificate was issued more than one year ago

Fees for Death Certificates Minnesota Statutes, section Minnesota Rules, part If the certificate to be amended is not surrendered:  The Fee is $13 for a death certificate unless other reductions apply

2010 Death Amendment Rules Refresher Training  Informant or entity who filed the death record may request an amendment  Amendment is limited to corrections in original death record and the provision of missing information  No fee for amendments made within 45 days and before issuance

2010 Death Amendment Rules Refresher Training  $40 fee after 45 days or issuance  Amending through funeral director must be within one year of the date of death and must be in writing  Amending through the Informant must be within one year, with notarized statement from the informant stating he/she agrees to the amendment

2010 Death Amendment Rules Refresher Training  Amending through a local registrar must be within five years of the date of death and is limited to the decedent’s demographic information  Refer amendments to cause of death to the State Registrar  Must present acceptable documentation

What’s new in Vital Records? FAMILY FUNERALS

Who has the right to make decisions about the body disposition after death or about the funeral?  The deceased or their family members.  In Minnesota, there is a statutory obligation for survivors to honor the written wishes of the deceased.  In situations where the decedent’s wishes are contested, the wishes of the next-of-kin take precedence.

Mortuary Science Regulation Minnesota Statutes 149A  Changes to Minnesota Statutes 149A became effective August 1,  The changes expand the rights of families to care for their own dead without the assistance of a funeral director.  The bill modified provisions relating to viewing, transporting and removal of a dead human body.

Family Funerals Home Care of the Deceased  The right to hold a public visitation of an un-embalmed body within private property;  Use of dry ice instead of embalming for up to four days;  Have minors present; and  Have flexible transportation options.

How does this affect your job  Families that do not retain a funeral director must file a death record at their Local Registrar’s office in the county where the death occurred or with the State Registrar.  Local Registrars may distribute the death worksheets. In those cases, direct the individual to complete the demographic portion only.  The medical portion of the death worksheet must be completed by the attending physician, and in some cases, the Medical Examiner.  Before the death record is filed: –Local Registrars must check the worksheet thoroughly for completion, before entering the data into the VRV.  Print the disposition permit and give the permit to family.  Important to note, MDH is currently developing additional policies and procedures related to family funerals.