Death Certificate Lost for Months

Paramjit Singh Bains died on October 6, and his family made arrangements to have him cremated so that they could take his remains to India and submerse them in water. His family paid the nursing home for four copies of Bains’ death certificate.

After five months and much trouble from the medical examiner, the doctor, and the county, the family still didn’t have the death certificate. Without the documentation, Bains’ children could not obtain passports and travel to India with the cremated remains. Bains’ family was also unable to obtain Bains’ life insurance policy benefits and access his bank account.

After The Problem Partner got involved, the funeral home agreed to forward the existing death certificate and the family is requesting the formal death certificate from the county.  The family is upset that the medical examiner still hasn’t determined Bains’ cause of death. 

See Jon Yates, Problem: Death Certificate Lost in Shuffle, Chicago Tribune, Mar. 31, 2011.