Before acquiring a death certificate there are a few things you will need to know. You will need to know the date and place of death of the person. Why you need the death certificate and why you are requesting it. You can request up to twenty free copies at a person's time of death. 

When asking for a death certificate, it’s important to know that only certain family members can legally obtain a death certificate of the deceased person. Some of these relatives are the spouse of the deceased, children, siblings, and other related people to the deceased. But they can be requested by anyone after they become public record. Look for your states death record here https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm 

There are some reasons as to why you will need a death certificate. One is to notify certain government agencies like Social Security of the passing of an individual. Another reason is to close or transfer bank accounts and credit cards. Or when claiming a relative’s life insurance or pension plan. 

If someone you know dies overseas in a foreign country, the American Embassy will get the notification of the death of the American national from the local government of that country. This is known as a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA), the CRDA is the proof that you need to close these accounts and other legal tasks. Visit here for a CRDA https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/death-abroad1/consular-report-of-death-of-a-u-s--citizen-abroad.html