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What is a death certificate?
A death certificate is a formal document confirming that a person has died. In Australia, death certificates are produced by the state government and stored as an official record of their life, along with their birth and marriage certificate (if applicable).
The death certificate provides proof of death, which is important for managing your loved one's affairs after they’re gone. It can also help you cancel any services or accounts they held while they were alive.
The death certificate is different to the ‘cause of death’ certificate a doctor will produce after assessing the person who’s died. This document is officially called a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and is usually completed and sent to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 48 hours of death.
Family with a cup of tea
How do you apply for a death certificate?
We know paperwork is the last thing you want to deal with, so your Funeral Specialist will take care of this for you. They’ll sit down with you to gather the required information. Then, they’ll send off the forms within seven days of the burial or cremation. It can take several weeks to receive the official death certificate, but we’ll chase things up if need be.
Remember, this is something we take care of every day. So, if there’s anything else we can take off your shoulders, all you have to do is ask.
Details you’ll need for the death certificate
When you meet with your Funeral Specialist, we’ll ask about your loved one. We’ll need the following details to complete their death certificate:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Place of death (full address of hospital or residence)
- Residential address
- Occupation
- Marital status at the time of death
- All marriages (place of marriage – city, state and country, full name of spouse, age at the time of marriage)
- Parents’ names and occupations, including mother’s maiden name
- Children’s names, dates of birth and ages
- Your relationship to the person who’s died
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