Hey there Jeff, not sure about your state, but our state was inundated with reports. I got mine within a month, but sometimes, if they are busy, it's longer. I'm sorry that you have to wait longer. Will pray that it isn't that long out. much love and big hugs carla

Jeff

Question them to see what the hold up is. In my husband's case it was toxicology reports because he was working at the time of his death. In my state they have to send them off to a central lab for unbiased test result. I spoke to the same person in the pathology department each time I called. I explained my situation ( needing to expedite this due to financial responsibilities) You shouldn't have to wait any longer. That's crazy. Also contact the last attending physician and or the person who ordered the autopsy. They have direct contact with the people who write these reports.
Keep pushing even if you get the same answer.

Jeff, I know what a nightmare this is. You just want to be able to move forward in your life and all the bureaucratic nonsense is in the way of you doing just that.

All creditors, including medical bills, will have to wait without penalty to you until you receive the final word and the insurance money. This will all be behind you and then you can truly start your grieving process. They're just delaying the inevitable! I'm so sorry!

It feels like a never-ending nightmare.

Remember, to take care of you during this time because you will have to live with YOU when the swirling feeling of a toilet flushing on and on finally stops.

Warmly,
Roz

Hi Jeff, I am going through the same thing and I live in Ventura CA. I was told three months and now it's going to take six or longer ! Our insurance company sent me the check when the certificate stated pending toxicology. You can try to see if the company will just take care of it since it's not that much money.. I just want to know why my husband died. God Bless you and good luck.

So sorry you have to go through this. My wife's death certificate came back in 3 weeks and her life insurance in a month after the certificate. In our case here in Florida she was responsible for her hospital costs so the hospital wrote off over 600k of ICU costs.after what the insurance paid. You may want to check the laws where you are that apply to cost responsibility.

The funeral home (something I didn't want, but her family did) is charging me nearly $50 a month in interest until they are paid.

This is why I hate money.

I have her new car that I can't afford without her income. I'm still too upside down to sell it. (I owe more than it's value.) I'm going to use the insurance money to pay off one vehicle, a few loans, etc and try to eliminate a bunch of monthly recurring payments just so I can get by...

Everyone I speak to says a month or two was all it took, I'm at three and I guess it does take that long, but it's getting frustrating.

I feel bad for knk2112 and having to wait 6 months or more. I'm sorry!

What upsets me is that the lead singer for the Stone Temple Pilots has an accidental drug overdose and his family had the results in less than a month, I'm sure someone somewhere was paid!

Call the city commissioner's office. I waited 12 weeks, had a hearing coming up for workmens comp.was told by an attorney to call the commissioner's office, I had mine the next day and they offered to hand deliver to me. All you are waiting on is someone's lazy ass to type it up.

Jeff, I had to wait almost 4 months for the ME's report and final cause of death for my wife. I understand completely the feeling of being in limbo and growing impatient because no one can give you answer. It held up handling her estate, being named her executor, and life insurance being dispersed. What made matters worse was that the funeral home agreed to be paid from the life insurance and put me in a difficult financial situation waiting so long.

The medical bills will have to wait until her estate is opened. Odds are her creditors may just write off the bills. All I can say is try to be patient. I know it's easier said than done.

Looks like the call from the insurance agent helped... she told me they were amending the certificate and sending it to me.

I hope the cause of death is worded in a clinical term, not simply what I assume it to be. I'm hoping it will say something like heart failure, not plainly suicide. :(

I'm scared really. I know what happened to her... but at the same time, I hope I'm wrong.

Hi Jeff I went through exactly the same thing. My husband died in Texas while I was in Chicago. It took them 4 months to give me an official cause of death. I don't think there is a time limit to file for the death benefits. I got some from the VA and where he worked both needed that and the coroners report. They were fine that his death was actually in aug and my official death certificate was in December. I'm so sorry you are going thru this. Did you apply for sociall security death benefit. The only need a preliminary death certificate. You can message me if you need to talk more about anything. Hugs,Donna

Hi Donna, and thanks! Yes I applied for the $255 death benefit.

I was told it can be used for funeral expenses... wasn't sure if I should have laughed at that or cried....

(I kinda laughed at it.)

I see now that I was expecting it to be sooner than normal...

Everyone I talked to said it should only be a couple of weeks, of course the deaths they experienced were of the elderly in a hospital or nursing home and it was somewhat expected.

I'm learning a lot by being here... thank you all for your help.