Supervisor Barger Leads Effort for Faster Veteran Death Certificates to Help Families

Los Angeles County supervisors are pushing federal lawmakers to end lengthy delays that can leave grieving military families waiting weeks or months for death certificates after a veteran dies.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Tuesday introduced by Chair Kathryn Barger that calls for supporting federal legislation requiring Department of Veterans Affairs physicians to sign veteran death certificates within 72 hours of being notified of a death.

Currently, no federal law guarantees such a timeframe, and families can wait up to eight weeks for the crucial documents under the existing VA system.

“This is about compassion, accountability, and basic decency,” Barger said. “Families who have lost a loved one who served our country deserve our full support, not delays caused by bureaucratic red tape.”

The delays create significant hardships for bereaved families beyond emotional grief. Without signed death certificates, survivors cannot access financial accounts, apply for survivor benefits or even begin planning funerals.

The Veterans Survivor Coalition recently wrote to congressional leaders highlighting the problem’s impact on military families across the country.

“This issue is not complicated, nor does it require extensive debate — it is simply a matter of ensuring that VA physicians, who were the primary doctor for the veteran, sign the death certificate within 72 hours of notification,” the coalition stated in their letter.

Barger’s motion directs the county’s Chief Executive Office to formally support any federal legislation establishing the 72-hour requirement for VA physicians.

The supervisor emphasized that addressing bureaucratic delays represents a basic obligation to families who sacrificed for their country.

“The very least we can do is ensure they aren’t left in limbo during such a painful time,” Barger said.

The motion comes as veteran advocacy groups nationwide have raised concerns about administrative burdens placed on military families during bereavement. While the technical nature of death certificate processing may seem routine, the real-world consequences affect thousands of families annually.