| Submit your comments on this article |
| Government |
| Detroit couldn't issue death - or birth - certificates because skittish vendor wanted cash to supply paper |
| 2013-08-29 |
| [DETROITNEWS] Detroit's funeral directors received this unusual text message last month. "FYI, city of Detroit can't process death certificates because they have no paper and don't have money to buy any." The message, from a fellow funeral director, was mostly true: The city did stop issuing certified copies of birth and death certificates on July 23, days after the July 18 bankruptcy filing. That day, a nervous paper vendor demanded cash -- and the city wanted to do business as usual, on credit. FYI: In bankrupt and frequently bizarre Detroit, dying is easy. It's proving you are dead that's hard. Cutbacks in hours, balky vendors, and the news that Herman Kiefer Complex will close Oct. 1 are all affecting the city's death and dying business. The city's vital records department will close and Wayne County will assume responsibility for issuing birth and death certificates, according to Bill Nowling, spokesman for Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. "Have you ever heard such a crock?" asked Wallace Williams, president of the Michigan Select Funeral Directors Association, when asked about the paper shortage. "They told us they ran out of paper and it might take five days to get some." Williams, who texted his 20 or so funeral director members, says the potential impact of a death certificate shortage was dire. Without certified copies of death certificates, families couldn't access bank accounts, file insurance claims, or access probate court. The families are often struggling financially, grieving and frustrated by any bureaucratic delay. And although funeral homes provide copies as a service to families, they wind up taking the heat. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Is it even possible to bury someone without a valid death certificate? Jimmy Hoffa to the courtesy phone. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-08-29 19:53 |
| #5 It's one way to avoid being lumped with Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington for 'kill' capitals of America. No cert, no body count. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-08-29 19:52 |
| #4 Obama has plenty of left over Birth Certificate paper. |
| Posted by: AIRANDEE 2013-08-29 15:11 |
| #3 Is it even possible to bury someone without a valid death certificate? |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2013-08-29 13:13 |
| #2 That'll make it easier for them to keep voting. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-08-29 12:07 |
| #1 dying is easy. It’s proving you are dead that’s hard. Yep. those government checks are good. Keep them coming. (Whether or not deserved) “People don’t understand that families become very upset when they can’t get the certificate.” Hard as hell to get your hands on that cash, smooth things out dammit. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2013-08-29 11:23 |