What Death Records Can Yield
If you are tracking down death certificates, you may be searching for your family history. If that is the case, The National Archives (NARA) at archives.gov has this advice for how get the most out of your death record search: 

• Birth records: does the death record have a place of birth? If so, write for a birth record.
• Funeral records: call or visit a funeral director in your area and ask if you can use the directory of funeral homes, called "The Yellow Book." It will give you the name and address of every funeral home in North America. Ask about the cemetery where the person was buried.
• Cemetery records: a cemetery office will have information about those buried there.
• Obituaries: most libraries carry the "American Library Directory," which is where you can obtain the address for the library nearest the place where your subject died. Write a letter (with a self addressed stamped envelope or SASE) requesting a copy of the person's obituary from the local newspaper, which most libraries keep on microfilm.
• Social security records: since about 1967, death certificates list the deceased social security number. With or without the number, you can request a copy of the person's original application for a social security card, which provides information such as the person's father, date of birth, maiden name of the person's mother, and address and employer at time of application.