[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR219.23]

[Page 231-232]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
                  CHAPTER II--RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
 
PART 219_EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR PAYMENT--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart B_Evidence of Age and Death
 
Sec. 219.23  Evidence to prove death.

    (a) Preferred evidence of death. The best evidence of a person's 
death is--
    (1) A certified copy of or extract from the public record of death, 
or verdict of the coroner's jury of the state or community where death 
occurred; or a certificate or statement of death issued by a local 
registrar or public health official;
    (2) A signed statement of the funeral director, attending physician, 
or official of an institution where death occurred;
    (3) A certified copy of, or extract from, an official report or 
finding of

[[Page 232]]

death made by an agency or department of the United States or of a 
state; or
    (4) If death occurred outside the United States, an official report 
of death by a United States Consul or other authorized employee of the 
State Department, or a certified copy of the public record of death in a 
foreign country.
    (b) Other evidence of death. If the preferred evidence of death 
cannot be obtained, the individual who must furnish evidence of death 
will be asked to explain the reason therefor and to submit other 
convincing evidence, such as sworn statements of at least two persons 
who have personal knowledge of the death. These persons must be able to 
swear to the date, time, place, and cause of death.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
3220-0077)