How can I get a death certificate for my husband who passed in Japan?

Military Law Discussions
1

I’m trying to get a death certificate for my husband who passed away in Japan. He was retired Air Force, and I wasn’t with him there at the time, so I’m not sure where to start. Any advice on how to get it?

2

I think you might want to start by reaching out to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Japan. They could guide you on how to get in touch with local authorities over there. Maybe they can even help you out with the paperwork.

3

@Keir
Oh, that’s a good idea, thanks! I didn’t think of the Embassy.

4

Did the Air Force send you any notification? If they did, they might also be able to provide additional details or support. You could check with the Air Force Personnel Center for retired personnel records.

5

@Teo
Yes, I did get a notice from them. I’ll try contacting them for more info too.

6

@Teo
Good call! That should help move things along.

7

Japan’s local government offices, like the ward or town office, issue death certificates. Since he was in Japan, you’ll need to go through those channels. Embassy might help connect you to the right office.

8

@Aris
Thank you! I’ll look into the local government offices there. It’s all a bit confusing, lol.

9

@Aris
Totally understand, paperwork like this can get so overwhelming. Hope it goes smoothly!

10

If you have any documents about his death from the Air Force, keep those handy. They can help a lot when explaining the situation to embassy officials.

11

Francis said:
If you have any documents about his death from the Air Force, keep those handy. They can help a lot when explaining the situation to embassy officials.

Good to know! I’ll gather everything I have. Thanks!

12

FYI, the Japanese legal system requires death certificates for estate and benefits stuff. Just something to keep in mind when you’re getting things together.

13

Dar said:
FYI, the Japanese legal system requires death certificates for estate and benefits stuff. Just something to keep in mind when you’re getting things together.

Yeah, true. You’ll need it for a bunch of legal things.

14

Dar said:
FYI, the Japanese legal system requires death certificates for estate and benefits stuff. Just something to keep in mind when you’re getting things together.

Got it, thanks for the heads-up!