SALEM, Ohio - Editor's note: The story has been updated to clarify that the registrar retired effective April 1.

The city of Salem residents who recently experienced a delay in receiving the death certificate of their loved ones are now able to get those certificates once more.

Kayla Crowl, the city's Health Commissioner, told 21 News that the city health department was not able to process death certificates after the Registrar, who officially stamps the documents, retired from the position on April 1.

All April death certificates had been held up, awaiting a new official stamp so the deputy registrar can certify them. We're told that stamp has arrived Friday afternoon.

Death certificates are needed so that the family or beneficiaries of the deceased can access assets from banks, retirement funds, life insurance, and more.

Crowl said the Salem City Health Department will extend its hours and will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday to give folks time to get their loved ones' death certificates.