What are death certificates?
The death of a loved one is a difficult time. You may need to go through the process of closing their accounts and managing their estate. For example, this might include closing their bank accounts.
To do this, some organisations may ask for proof the person has died.
A death certificate is proof of your loved one’s death.
Why are there two death certificates?
BDM offers two death certificates - a death certificate with the cause of death, and one without the cause of death.
What is the death certificate package?
The death certificate package aims to simplify the process and protect your privacy. It helps you protect sensitive information such as the cause of your loved one’s death. The package includes two legal death certificates:
- Death certificate; and
- Death certificate – cause of death.
To close an account, most organisations don’t need the cause of death. You can decide which legal certificate you give them if they do not need the cause of death.
This gives you more choice in how you manage your loved one’s estate.
You can also read the video transcript.
About the death certificate
The legal death certificate excludes some sensitive information about your loved one. It does not show:
- The cause of death
- Details of their burial
- The date we registered their death.
Where can it be used?
You can use this death certificate with organisations that don’t need to know the cause of your loved one’s death.
For example, you may use it with:
- Banks
- Utility companies
- Telecommunication providers
- Local councils.
About the death certificate - cause of death
The legal death certificate - cause of death includes sensitive information about your loved one. For example, it does include:
- The cause of death
- Details of their burial
- The date we registered their death.
Where can it be used?
You can give this certificate to any organisation that asks you to prove the death of your loved one.
Some organisations may need the cause of death, and may only accept this certificate.
These include:
- Superannuation companies
- Insurance companies.
If you’ve received two death certificates
This is the death certificate package. It contains the death certificate and the death certificate - cause of death.
You can choose which legal certificate you give to organisations that don’t need the cause of death.
If you’ve only received one death certificate
You may have ordered a death certificate package and only received one certificate (the death certificate).
This could mean that your loved one’s death is currently under investigation by the coroner.
BDM can't issue a death certificate - cause of death until the coroner has determined the cause of death.
Once the coroner has done this, we will send you a death certificate - cause of death automatically.
The time it takes will depend on how long the coroner’s investigation takes.
For more information on the process, please visit Get a death certificate.
How to apply
In most cases, you won't need to apply directly for a death certificate. The funeral director will usually do it for you.
If you do need to apply yourself, we can only issue a death certificate after we have registered the death.
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