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Death Certificate

Service Overview

What is a Death Certificate?

A Death Certificate is a legal document which declares that a person is officially deceased. It is useful in settling the deceased person’s affairs, such as transfer of property through inheritance and/or insurance matters.

Who Can Register a Death?

The occupier of the house in which the person died;

Adult(s) causing the body of the deceased to be buried or cremated;

Any adult, including the nearest relative, who was present at the death;

When Should Deaths Be Registered?

Deaths deemed to have occurred from natural causes are to be registered within five days, however, the registration of sudden/violent deaths is dependent on the completion of several government processes and therefore has no time requirement.

If a person dies of natural causes at home:

  • Report the death to the police
  • Visit the last doctor to examine the deceased (at least three months before the death.) The physician will complete and sign a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death
  • The Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death should then be taken to the Local District Registrar (LDR) where the death will be registered.
  • At the LDR the person responsible for the burial may then complete the application form for the death certificate, and pay a fee of $850.
  • The death certificate will be sent to the family member’s address within six weeks.

If a person dies of natural causes in a hospital:

  • After a death occurs in the hospital, the attending physician completes and signs a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death.
  • The Medical Certificate will be issued to a relative or the person responsible for the burial, and that person must take it to the LDR, where the death will be registered.
  • At the LDR the person responsible for the burial may then complete the application form for the death certificate, and pay a fee of $850.
  • The death certificate will be sent to the family members’ address within six weeks.

In the case of Sudden or Violent Deaths:

  • An autopsy or post-mortem will be required and will be ordered by a police officer.
  • After the post-mortem is completed the police officer will issue the Burial Order to the person responsible for the burial.
  • The police will then deliver the Post Mortem signed by the Pathologist or Medical Doctor to the Coroner’s Court.
  • The person responsible for burial may then request a Certificate of Coroner (Form D) from the Coroners Court, which is to be taken to the LDR and used to register the death.
  • At the LDR the person responsible for the burial may then complete the application form for the death certificate, and pay a fee of $850.
  • The death certificate will be sent to the family member’s address within six weeks