A NSW Standard Death Certificate is the official certified copy of registration data held by the NSW Registry.

If the death occurred 30 years ago or more, please refer to Family History. If the death occurred in another state or territory of Australia, please contact the relevant Registry Office.

The Registry can only produce a Death Certificate if the death has been registered. Details of the death must have been lodged at the Registry for them to be recorded. Funeral directors are usually responsible for registering the death within 7 days of the burial or cremation.

All Death Certificate applications must be accompanied by at least 3 forms of identification. This ensures your privacy is maintained and that information is only released to those who are entitled to it.

Who Can Apply

Before completing a Death Certificate application form you need to first check if you can apply for it. In NSW, Death Certificates are available to:

• The next of kin named on the death certificate, i.e. spouse (married/defacto), parent or child of the deceased
• The funeral director (within two months of the registration of death)
• Solicitor acting for next of kin or Estate
• Executor of the Estate

If you are a relative not listed on the certificate, the certificate can be issued to you if the deceased has no spouse, children or parents still alive.

• Please provide at least 3 forms of your identification with your application.

If you are not named on the Death Certificate, you must satisfy one of the following conditions:

1. Provide written authority and at least 3 forms of identification from the person providing the authority, plus your own identification.
2. Show a document establishing custody or guardianship of the deceased.
3. Show Power of Attorney for one of the person's named on the death certificate.
   

Solicitors Applying For a Certificate

Where solicitors apply for certificates on behalf of clients, they must provide:

1. a letter on company letterhead stating the reason required ("legal" is not sufficient; a specific reason is needed i.e. Probate, Estate Administration, etc), together with the name of the client for whom the solicitor is acting.
2. The letter must be accompanied by:
   - a completed application form, and
   - a copy of your Law Society ID Card or Practising Certificate.
3. Solicitor's name must be written in the Applicant's Details section. Payment must be made with a company or trust cheque, or company credit card.

Cost and Delivery

The Registry produces a Standard Death Certificate only, as Commemorative Death Certificates are not available.

• Fees & turnaround times

If you are purchasing a certificate for a recent death, or if the Funeral Director has sent the Death Registration form to the Registry in the last 15 days, select the 'non-urgent' processing option.

Application Form

• Death Certificate Application Form

For information on applying in person, see our home page.

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