What is a death certificate?

When someone passes away, it is important to register their death with the office of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in the relevant state or territory in Australia. Once the death is registered, the state authority will issue an official death certificate. The death certificate is necessary for legal and financial purposes. You’ll usually need the document to cancel bills, bank accounts, utilities, and administer other parts of the deceased person's estate.

The funeral director typically handles the registration of the death on behalf of the family or next of kin, as well as the application for the death certificate. They will provide all the necessary forms that need to be completed. At Bare, we have streamlined much of the paperwork, making it easier and faster to complete online.

Although it is not required to present a birth certificate or marriage certificate, it is essential to have all the information in order to accurately fill out the death registration form. You may need to provide the following details:

• Full name of the deceased
• The deceased’s occupation
• Dates and places of the deceased’s birth and death
• If born overseas, the date the deceased came to Australia
• Marriage and relationship information of the deceased: place, dates and spouse’s/partner’s full name
• Full names and dates of birth of all children of the deceased
• Full names, dates of birth and occupations of the deceased’s parents

It is also important to note that the death cannot be officially registered until after the cremation has taken place. It is advisable that families allow approximately four weeks from the registration date for the official death certificate to be delivered.

Bare offers simple and affordable cremations, and registering the death certificate is included in our arrangements. To learn more about our simple cremation arrangements or to get a quote, visit our website, or give us a call anytime on 1800 071 176.