When someone dies, who all needs to receive the death certificate?

[TexasCowgirl]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas
My father-in-law died and we are having trouble figuring out exactly what needs to be done. We have been told that we need to send the death certificate to different places, but we are not sure exactly who needs to receive one. Also, we have an old file with insurance policies that we don't know if they are still in effect or not and really are not sure how to find that out. A little leary to call the insurance company holding the policy because if they know that we are unsure and that the person is now dead, that they might just say that it was an old policy not in effect now just to keep from having to pay the policy out. Just unsure of the law in this regards. Thanks in advance for any and all comments made to this post.

 

[anteater]

We have been told that we need to send the death certificate to different places, but we are not sure exactly who needs to receive one.

That's a question that nobody can answer. It depends upon how many transactions have to be undertaken to settle the estate. I've found that a dozen is usually a sufficient number.

A little leary to call the insurance company holding the policy because if they know that we are unsure and that the person is now dead, that they might just say that it was an old policy not in effect now just to keep from having to pay the policy out.

You are being too paranoid. Call and ask. Also look through FIL's bank statements and other papers for payments or statements from the insurance companies.