An official document which states that a person has ceased life, according to medical standards.

Each state provides these documents, and they are typically filed by a service professional, such as a doctor, nurse, EMT, police officer, firefighter, etc.

"Pronouncement" refers to the date and time the deceased was found to be legally dead (the time a person may have actually died).

This time is then listed on a Death Certificate, which is documented in national and state records and acts as an official document to facilitate many administrative tasks related to the deceased's Estate.