Correcting a death certificate after 30 years... help?

Hey everyone. So, my wife and I separated like 30+ years ago but never divorced. I recently found out she passed away 17 years ago. When I tried to get her death certificate so I could marry my fiancée (we’ve been together 10 years), I was surprised to see someone else’s name listed as her spouse. I have all my documents, like our marriage certificate, but the NY Department of Health told me I need a court order since so much time has passed. Anyone been through something like this? Do I need a lawyer for this, or can I do it myself? I don’t really have time to go to court. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Man, that sounds like a headache. I think you can file for a court order yourself, but it might take some time. Have you looked up how to petition the court in NY?

Emma said:
Man, that sounds like a headache. I think you can file for a court order yourself, but it might take some time. Have you looked up how to petition the court in NY?

Yeah, I saw it involves filing something with the Surrogate’s Court. I’m just not sure if I’ll mess something up by doing it myself.

Emma said:
Man, that sounds like a headache. I think you can file for a court order yourself, but it might take some time. Have you looked up how to petition the court in NY?

If you’re busy, maybe a lawyer could speed things up for you? They can handle the filings and appearances, so you don’t have to worry.

Emma said:
Man, that sounds like a headache. I think you can file for a court order yourself, but it might take some time. Have you looked up how to petition the court in NY?

That’s what I’m leaning toward. Just don’t want to spend a ton of money if I can avoid it.

Wait, did you check if she remarried? That could explain the different spouse name.

Raven said:
Wait, did you check if she remarried? That could explain the different spouse name.

Yeah, I thought about that. I checked for divorce or remarriage records, and there was nothing. So I guess we were still legally married.

Raven said:
Wait, did you check if she remarried? That could explain the different spouse name.

If there are no records, then yeah, you were probably still legally her spouse. Sounds like a mistake on the death certificate.

FYI, court orders can take weeks or even months. If you’re in a hurry to get married, hiring a lawyer might be worth it.

Harlem said:
FYI, court orders can take weeks or even months. If you’re in a hurry to get married, hiring a lawyer might be worth it.

Good to know. I don’t want this to drag on forever, so maybe a lawyer is the way to go.

Harlem said:
FYI, court orders can take weeks or even months. If you’re in a hurry to get married, hiring a lawyer might be worth it.

Yeah, lawyers can cut through the red tape. Plus, they know exactly what to file so there are no delays.

What documents do you already have? That might help someone here give you better advice.

Dale said:
What documents do you already have? That might help someone here give you better advice.

I have our marriage certificate and the original death certificate. The issue is the spouse name doesn’t match mine.

Dale said:
What documents do you already have? That might help someone here give you better advice.

Sounds like you’re good on docs. Just gotta convince the court to issue the order.

What’s the process like to get a court order in NY? Anyone know?

Patel said:
What’s the process like to get a court order in NY? Anyone know?

You’d usually file in Surrogate’s Court with all your docs. The judge reviews everything and decides if they’ll issue the order.

Patel said:
What’s the process like to get a court order in NY? Anyone know?

It’s not super complicated, but the paperwork can be a pain. If you’re not comfortable with legal forms, a lawyer can handle it for you.

Patel said:
What’s the process like to get a court order in NY? Anyone know?

Appreciate the breakdown. I’ll weigh my options and see what makes sense for my schedule.