Which document serves a crucial role in the death process and is often required for legal purposes?

The death certificate serves a crucial role in the death process and is often required for legal purposes because it is an official document that certifies the fact of a person's death. Issued by a medical authority or government official, the death certificate provides essential details such as the time, date, and cause of death. It is necessary for various legal processes, including settling estates, claiming life insurance benefits, and handling other affairs related to the deceased.

While the last will and testament outlines how a person's wishes regarding their estate should be carried out after death, and a living will addresses medical decisions made before death, these documents do not serve the same legal function as the death certificate. The affidavit of death, while it can be used in specific legal contexts, is typically not as universally required or recognized as the death certificate itself.