Immediate Cause of Death: Report the most recent disease, condition, or injury that occurred right before the person died that directly resulted in death. In cases where a single disease or condition is responsible for the death, report it on line “a” as the sole cause of death.

The most "immediate" or "recent" event that leads to death is listed in line a. The other conditions are listed in Line b to and then sequentially. The last and most remote condition leading to death is listed as the “underlying” cause of death.

Reporting cause of death It is the responsibility of the medical practitioner signing the death certificate to indicate which morbid conditions led directly to death and to state any antecedent conditions giving rise to the underlying cause of death.

You can search most state archives online and easily access them from the comfort of your own home. These searches are also free. State archives often have death certificates that date to the founding of their state and beyond in some cases.

You may complete an application for a certified copy of a death certificate, bring your photo identification and correct fees to the Vital Records Central Office. Walk-in services accepts cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards as forms of payment.

When a death occurs, a certifier must determine the cause(s) of death and accurately report it on the death certificate. Guidelines for who can certify a death can vary by jurisdiction, but the certifier is typically a physician, medical examiner, or coroner.