It can take up to eight weeks to receive a copy of the death certificate, which will be sent directly to the person nominated on the registration form. To save time make sure the certificate is sent to the executor and NOT direct to the funeral home.

To complete the application for a death certificate you will need the correct spellings and information about the deceased person:

• Full name
• Any previous names
• Date and place of birth
• Period of residence in Australia
• Residential address at the time of death
• Occupation
• Marital status
• Spouse’s name (for all marriages)
• Date of marriage, registered relationship or de facto relationship (for all)
• Parent’s full names and date of birth (living or deceased)
• Children’s full names and date of birth (living or deceased)
• Cause of death
• Place of death
• Time and date of death
•  

Information for a death certificate is usually collected by the funeral home or funeral director at the time of planning the funeral. They will then will complete and submit the form online.

We recommend you request a printed draft copy to take away and ensure the information provided is correct in particular dates and spelling.

Making changes after the certificate has been issued is costly and incorrect information can significantly impact estate administration.

As the executor, it’s your responsibility to ensure all details are correct on the death certificate application (even if you didn’t provide the information to the funeral home).

If any information is incorrect or misspelled on the death certificate it can create problems and additional expense.

To save time request the death certificate is sent directly to the executor or the person most likely to administer the estate and not the funeral director.

It’s important not to give anyone the original death certificate and to keep it in a secure place as it may be required in the future.

If Your Estate Lawyer is engaged to assist you with estate management or obtaining a grant of probate, we will provide you with multiple certified copies of the original death certificate.