If the date of death is unknown, how may it be determined?

Determining the date of death when it is unknown often relies on approximation. This technique is used because the specific day someone passed away may not be recorded or available through official documentation. Approximating the date involves using available information, such as the circumstances surrounding the person's last known activities, medical records, or other contextual clues that can help narrow down when the individual likely died.

For instance, if a person was last seen several days before being discovered, their date of death can be approximated based on when they were last observed. Such estimations take into account various factors, such as the condition of the body or surrounding evidence, to arrive at a reasonable timeframe, thereby providing a date that is as close to the actual death date as possible.

While documentation is essential for many aspects of funeral practice, it won't be available if the date is already unknown. Witness accounts can provide some context but are subjective and might not yield a definitive date. Estimation might involve similar reasoning but does not emphasize the timeframe as closely as approximation does. Therefore, relying on approximation is the most accurate approach in situations where the date of death cannot be definitively established.