A death certificate is a legal document which has the records of date, time, place, and cause of death of a person. Death’ certificate is given by the government authority of local area which has the jurisdiction over the place where the death occurred of that person. A death certificate is very important and also it is required for various purposes, such as claiming insurance benefits, settling inheritance matters, applying for passports, etc.
In India, the process of applying for a death certificate online is easy and also it is governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths according to the Act of 1969 and rules framed there under. The responsibility of taking and recording all the births and deaths occurring in the hospitals/nursing homes/maternity homes etc., registered lies with the heads of the Registrations Units called the Registrar. The portal of Online Registration of Births & Deaths was rolled out in the year 2019¹. About 5 Registration Units has so far onboarded in this online Portal.
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How to do Death Certificate Apply
The process of obtaining a death certificate may vary depending on the country state or region where the death occurred. However some general steps are:
To apply for a death certificate online, you need to follow these steps:
- Visit the official website of your state or union territory’s health department or registrar office. You can find the links to some of them below.
- Register yourself as a new user by providing your personal details, such as name, address, phone number, email id, etc.
- Login with your user id and password and fill up the online application form with the required details about the deceased person, such as name, date of birth/death, place of birth/death, relationship with deceased person, etc.
- Upload the scanned copies of supporting documents along with your application form. These may include:
- Proof of identity (such as Aadhaar card/PAN card/Voter card/Passport)
- Proof of address (such as Aadhaar card/Passport/Telephone bill)
- Proof of relationship (such as birth certificate/Death certificate/Ancestry certificate)
- Medical report or autopsy report (if available)
- Any other document required by your state or union territory’s health department or registrar office
- Pay the prescribed fee online through debit card/credit card/net banking/UPI/Paytm etc.
- Submit your application form and take a printout or save it on your device for future reference.
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What Information Does a Death Certificate Contain
A death certificate typically contains the following information:
- Registration number and date
- Name and surname of the deceased
- Sex and age of the deceased
- Date and time of death
- Place of death (hospital, home, etc.)
- Cause of death (natural, accidental, homicidal, etc.)
- Duration of illness (if any)
- Name and address of the informant
- Name and signature of the registrar
- Some additional information that may be included in a death certificate are:
- Religion and nationality of the deceased
- Occupation and educational qualification of the deceased
- Spouse’s name and children’s names (if any)
- Place of burial or cremation
- Name and address of the attending physician
Overview Of Death Certificate
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name of deceased | The full name of the person who died |
| Date of death | The day, month and year when the person died |
| Place of death | The city, state or country where the person died |
| Cause of death | The medical reason for the person’s death |
| Sex | The biological sex of the person who died |
| Age | The age of the person who died at the time of death |
| Marital status | Whether the person was single, married, divorced, widowed or separated |
| Spouse’s name | The name of the person’s spouse, if applicable |
| Parents’ names | The names of the person’s biological or adoptive parents |
| Occupation | The type of work the person did before death |
| Residence | The address where the person lived before death |
| Informant’s name | The name of the person who reported the death to the authorities |
| Registrar’s name | The name of the official who issued the death certificate |
How to Correct Errors in a Death Certificate
Sometimes there may be errors or mistakes in a death certificate due to clerical or typographical errors. These errors may affect the legal rights and benefits of the family members of the deceased. Therefore it is important to correct them as soon as possible.
To correct errors in a death certificate one has to:
- Apply for correction in writing to the registrar who issued the original certificate. The application should mention the details of the error and the correct information.
- Attach a copy of the original death certificate along with supporting documents which proves the correct information of the body. For example if there is an error in the name or date of birth of the dead person. one can attach a copy of their birth certificate or identity card.
- After that you need to pay a fee for correction as prescribed by the local authority. The fee may vary depending on the nature and extent of correction.
- You can receive a corrected death certificate from the registrar after verification.
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How to Check Your Death Certificate Status Online
To check your death certificate status online from your state or union territory’s health department or registrar office’s website, you need to follow these steps:
- Login with your user id and password on your registered device.
- Go to the section where you can view and download your application status.
- Enter your application number or reference number that you received after submitting your application form.
- Click on “View” or “Download” button to see or download an acknowledgement receipt that contains information about your application status.
What If I Have Any Queries Or Complaints Regarding My Death Certificate Online?
If you have any queries or complaints regarding your death certificate online,
you can do one of these things:
- Contact their customer care service through phone call/email/mail/in-person etc. and raise your issue
- Visit their grievance redressal mechanism if they have one available
- Approach their higher authorities if there is any dissatisfaction with their.
How to Verify or Print a Death Certificate Online
In some countries or regions such as India and USA one can verify or print a copy of a death certificate online through official websites or portals. This can save time and ability for those who need a copy urgently or who live far away from the registrar’s office.
To verify or print a death certificate online one has to:
- First of all visit the official website or portal of the local authority that issues death certificates. For example in India one can visit http://gccapp.chennaicorporation.gov.in/
- In USA one can visit https://www.usa.gov/death-certificate for federal information or contact their state vital records office.
- Now you need to enter the required details such as registration number, name, date of death, etc…, to search for the death certificate. The details may vary depending on the website or portal.
- Also verify the information displayed on the screen and confirm that it matches with the original death certificate. You had previously.
- Now you can Print a copy of the death certificate or download it as a PDF file. The copy may or may not have a digital signature or seal depending on the website or portal.
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How to Download a Death Certificate Online
To download a death certificate online from your state or union territory’s health department or registrar office’s website, you need to follow these steps:
- Login with your user id and password on your registered device.
- Go to the section where you can view and download your application status.
- Enter your application number or reference number that you received after submitting your application form.
- Click on “View” or “Download” button to see or download your death certificate.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Death Certificate Online?
The time taken to get a death certificate online depends on various factors, such as:
- The volume of applications received by the Registrations Unit
- The availability of staff and resources at the Registrations Unit
- The verification process conducted by the Registrations Unit
- The delivery mode chosen by you (printout/Digital copy)
Generally speaking, it may take anywhere from 7 days to 30 days for you to get a death certificate online after submitting an application form. However, this may vary depending on individual circumstances.
What If I Have Not Received My Death Certificate Online Within The Mentioned Time Frame?
If you have not received your death certificate online within the mentioned time frame after submitting an application form,
you can do one of these things:
- Contact the Registrations Unit through phone call/email/mail/in-person etc. and inquire about the status of your application
- Visit their office personally and inquire about any issues faced during verification process
- Approach their higher authorities if there is any delay in processing due to technical glitches/human errors etc.
Conclusion
A death certificate is a Required document that records the fact and circumstances of a persons death. It is essential for various legal and administrative purposes. One should obtain a death certificate from the registrar of births and deaths within 21 days from the date of death. One should also check for any errors in the death certificate and correct them as soon as possible. One can also verify or print a copy of a death certificate online through official websites or portals
Frequently Asked Questions:-
Q .How long does it take to get Death Certificate or Apply?
A.It generally takes 4 to 7 working days to get a death certificate if the death is registered within 21 days of its occurrence.However if the death is registered after 21 days it may take longer and involve additional fees and documents.
Q.What is a death certificate and why is it required?
A .A death certificate is a document issued by the government to the kin of the deceased stating the date fact and cause of death. It is required to establish the fact of death legally for relieving the deceased from social legal and official obligations. It is also used to enable settlement of property inheritance and to authorise the family to collect insurance and other benefits.
