A certified death certificate translation is a complete English translation of a death certificate plus a signed certificate of accuracy, accepted for immigration (widow and widower petitions), probate, estate administration and insurance claims. Standard certificates are ready in 1–2 business days.

We know these requests often come at a difficult time, so we keep the process simple and handle every document with care and discretion.

Key Takeaways

• Certified translation with a signed certificate of accuracy.
• Used for widow/widower petitions, probate, estates and insurance.
• Full translation including cause, dates, registrar details, seals and stamps.
• Turnaround 1–2 business days.
• Part of our certified translation services.

When you need it

• Widow or widower immigration petitions
• Probate and estate administration
• Closing accounts and transferring assets
• Insurance and pension claims
• Repatriation and burial abroad

For the rule behind US immigration filings, see our guide to certified translation for USCIS.

What’s included

• Complete translation — full name, dates, place, cause of death, informant and registrar details, certificate number, seals and stamps.
• Certified with a signed accuracy statement.
• Format-matched to the original.

Available across all languages we translate.

Turnaround and process

Most certificates are delivered in 1–2 business days, with rush options available.

1. Send a clear scan and tell us where it’s going.
2. Receive a fixed quote and timeline.
3. We translate and independently review.
4. You get a certified PDF; notarized or mailed copies on request.

Get a free, no-pressure quote →

Related documents

Estate and immigration matters often need a divorce decree translation or a birth certificate translation alongside the death certificate. We keep details consistent across the set.

FAQ

Is notarization required? Not for USCIS. For some probate courts and consulates it is — we add it when needed.

Can you also arrange an apostille for use abroad? Yes. See our apostille and legalization service; we can do both in one order.

How quickly can you turn it around? Standard is 1–2 business days; ask about same-day for urgent matters. Contact us →

USCIS requirements and acceptance guarantee

USCIS requires that any foreign-language death certificate submitted with an immigration petition be accompanied by a complete and certified English translation. Our translations meet this standard, and we guarantee acceptance.

Details: Every translation includes a signed certificate of translation accuracy from the translator, which is what USCIS looks for when reviewing supporting documents. If USCIS ever issues a Request for Evidence concerning our translation, we respond at no additional cost and correct any issue. We translate every visible element of the certificate, including stamps, handwritten annotations, and seals, so reviewers see a faithful and complete rendering of the original record.

Cause of death medical terminology

Death certificates often contain dense medical language, and an inaccurate rendering of the cause of death can create problems for insurers, courts, and government agencies.

Details: Our translators are experienced with clinical terminology used on death certificates, including immediate, underlying, and contributing causes of death, as well as abbreviations and handwritten physician notes. We preserve the original medical wording rather than simplifying or interpreting it, and we transliterate drug names, conditions, and anatomical terms into standard English equivalents. Where a term is ambiguous or illegible, we add a translator’s note instead of guessing, so the receiving agency can see exactly what the source document says.

Translator certification and verification

A certified translation is one that the translator attests to with a signed statement; when required, that statement can also be notarized, with a notary public notarizing the translator’s declaration.

Details: For each project we can provide a certificate of accuracy signed by the translator, and upon request a notary can notarize that signed statement for use with authorities that require it. If you need the underlying death certificate itself authenticated for use abroad, note that an apostille or authentication confirms the signatures, stamps, or seals on documents such as court orders, contracts, vital records, and diplomas, and vital records typically require an apostille or authentication certificate for foreign use. We can advise on how the translation fits into that process.

Customer reviews and ratings

Feedback from clients shows how well a service handles sensitive, time-critical documents like death certificates.

Details: Families, estate attorneys, insurers, and immigration representatives use our death certificate translation services and leave reviews describing their experience with accuracy, speed, and support. We publish verified customer reviews and ratings so you can see real outcomes before ordering, including comments on how we handled hard-to-read handwriting, official seals, and urgent deadlines. If you have a special requirement, reading reviews from clients in similar situations, such as probate or green card applications, can help you decide whether the service fits your needs.

Supported languages

Death certificates come from every country, so language coverage matters as much as accuracy.

Details: We translate death certificates from and into a wide range of languages, including the languages most commonly requested for US immigration, insurance, and estate matters: Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, Hindi, and more. Each certificate is assigned to a translator fluent in the source language and familiar with that country’s civil registry format, so local terms for registrars, districts, and record types are rendered correctly. If your document is in a language not listed, contact us to confirm availability before ordering.