Who is required to sign a death certificate in Virginia?

In Virginia, the requirement for signing a death certificate lies with the attending physician or medical examiner. This process is crucial as it ensures that there is an official documentation of the cause of death and other vital statistics related to the deceased. The attending physician is typically the healthcare provider who was responsible for the care of the individual prior to their passing, thereby possessing the necessary medical information to accurately fill out the death certificate.

The role of the medical examiner comes into play particularly in cases of unexpected deaths, suspected foul play, or when an autopsy is warranted. In these situations, it is their duty to ascertain the cause of death and provide that information on the death certificate.

While family members may play a role in providing information or support, and funeral directors are responsible for managing the logistics of the funeral process and paperwork, the legal mandate for signing off on the death certificate specifically rests with medical professionals—hence the attending physician or medical examiner is required to complete this important task.