NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS STANDARD CERTIFICATES PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR DEATH CERTIFICATES DEVELOPED BY EACH STATE. DIFFERENCES IN STATE JURISDICTION OVER DEATH CERTIFICATES MAKE STANDARDIZATION DIFFICULT. DEATH CERTIFICATION IS OF GREAT VALUE IN TERMS OF INHERITANCE AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS, STATISTICAL USES, PROCESSING AND SETTLEMENT OF INSURANCE AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS, AND ORDERLY DISPOSAL OF DEAD BODIES. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER OR CORONER IN DEATH REGISTRATION IS OUTLINED, AND ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF VITAL RECORDS. A DISCUSSION OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATION INCLUDES CERTIFYING THE CAUSE OF DEATH, METHODS OF CERTIFICATION, AND THE CERTIFYING STATEMENT. DATA SOURCES, CODING OF DATA AND THEIR AVAILABILITY, AND DATA LIMITATIONS ARE ALSO COVERED.