​By enactment in 2016 by KRS 213.076, a death certificate may be signed by an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Please refer to Advisory Opinion Statement #36 Resuscitation Orders, Pronouncement of Death and Death Certi​ficates​.

KRS 213.076 (1)(a) “A certificate of death or a provisional certificate of death for each death which occurs in the Commonwealth shall be filed with the cabinet or as otherwise directed by the state registrar prior to final disposition, and it shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section. The funeral director, or person acting as such, who first takes custody of a dead body shall be responsible for filing the certificate of death. The funeral director, or person acting as such, shall obtain the required personal and statistical particulars from the person best qualified to supply them over the signature and address of the informant. Effective January 1, 2015, all certificates of death shall be filed with the cabinet using the Kentucky Electronic Death Registration System in a manner directed by the state registrar.”