1.    A death record for each death that occurs in this state must be filed with the state registrar in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the department of health and human services using the electronic death registration system. All registration and issuing of copies of death records will be completed by the department of health and human services.

2.    The funeral director shall obtain the facts of death from the next of kin or the best qualified individual or source available and must file the facts of death information using the electronic death registration system within three days after assuming custody of the dead body. The funeral director shall obtain the medical certification of death from the individual responsible for the medical certification.

3. The medical certification must be completed and filed using the electronic death registration system within ten days after death by the physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition which resulted in death except when inquiry is required by the local health officer or coroner.

4.    When death occurred without medical attendance or when inquiry is required by the local health officer or coroner, the county coroner shall investigate the cause of death, and shall obtain medical information about the individual from the individual’s medical records or last-known physician or physician assistant, and shall complete and file the medical certification within ten days after taking charge of the case using the electronic death registration system.

5.    If the cause of death cannot be determined within ten days after death, the medical certification may be filed after the prescribed period, in accordance with rules adopted by the department of health and human services. The attending physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or coroner shall give the funeral director in custody of the body notice of the reason for the delay and final disposition may not be made until authorized by the attending physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or coroner.

6.    When a death is presumed to have occurred within this state but the body cannot be located, a death record may be prepared by the state registrar upon receipt of findings of a court of competent jurisdiction, including the facts of death and medical certification required to complete the death record. The death record must be marked “presumptive” and must show on the face of the death record the date of registration and must identify the court and the date of the decree.

7.    Each death registration must include the social security number of the decedent, if the information is available. A social security number included on a death record is confidential and may be disclosed only to a relative or authorized representative of the individual named on the record, to a person with personal or real property interests that depend upon information contained in the death record, or by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.