Family access |
- Informant on death certificate
- Next of kin
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Family members** including:
In relation to deceased adult:
- The deceased's spouse or domestic partner
- The deceased's child or the guardian of the deceased's child
- The deceased's parent
In relation to a deceased child:
- The child's parent
- The child's guardian immediately before death.
**Other family members may be entitled to the death certificate only if none of the family members listed above exist.
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Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
Proof of status examples include:
- If you are a spouse or domestic partner at the time of death, you must be registered as the spouse or domestic partner of the deceased or provide relevant evidence
- If you are a child of the deceased, you must be registered as the child of the deceased or provide relevant evidence
- If you are the guardian of the deceased's child, you must provide evidence demonstrating that you have parental responsibility for the child
- If you are a parent of the deceased, you must be listed as the parent of the deceased on the deceased's birth certificate.
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Legal death certificate |
Family access |
Other relatives (not entitled persons) |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
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Legal death certificate |
Deceased estate matters |
Public trustees and trustee companies |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request on letterhead signed by the authorised delegate stating that the trustee acts on behalf of the deceased's estate
- Evidence that the delegate has authority to apply:
- Inclusion on a list of authorised delegates
- Letter of authority from next of kin
- Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration in the name of the public trustee or trustee company
- A Trust Deed appointing the company as the trustee of a trust
- Current, certified copy of proof of identity of delegate (if required)
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Executors |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Grant of Probate in the name of the executor or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Legal practitioners applying on behalf of an executor |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Permission from the executor in the form of either:
- A letter specifying the information that you can access
OR
- A third party authority form in which the executor gives you permission to access the specified information.
- Grant of Probate in the name of the executor or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Applicant named in Letters of Administration or Advertised Notice of Intention |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Letters of Administration in the name of the applicant or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation.
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Legal practitioner applying on behalf of an applicant named in Letters of Administration |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Current, certified proof of identity of the applicant named in Letters of Administration
- Permission from the applicant named in the Letters of Administration in the form of either:
- A letter specifying the information that you can access
OR
- A third party authority form in which the applicant named in the Letters of Administration gives you permission to access the specified information
- Letters of Administration in the name of the applicant or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation.
- The relevant fee.
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Legal certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of the next of kin/family member of the deceased |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including
- Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity of next of kin/family member of the deceased
- Permission from the next of kin/family member in the form of either:
- A written statement on letterhead (if applicable) authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR
- A third party authority form in which the next of kin/family member of the deceased gives permission to you to access the specified information
- One of the following:
- Death certificate of the deceased that includes the next of kin/family member
- Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (or interstate/overseas equivalent) in the name of the next of kin/family member of deceased.
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of the executor or administrator |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity of the executor or administrator
- Permission from the executor or administrator in the form of either:
- A written statement on letterhead (if applicable) authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR
- A third party authority form in which the executor or administrator gives permission to you to access the specified information.
- Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation (or interstate/overseas equivalent) in the name of the executor or administrator
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of a legal representative of the next of kin/family member of the deceased, executor or administrator |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request for the specified information on official letterhead signed by the authorised delegate of the legal representative stating that they act on behalf of the next of kin/family member of the deceased, executor or administrator
- A letter of authority from next of kin/family member of the deceased, executor or administrator that the authorised delegate of the legal representative is acting on their behalf
- Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity from the:
- Authorised delegate of the legal representative of the next of kin/family member, executor or administrator
AND
- Next of kin/family member, or executor or administrator
- Permission from the legal representative of the next of kin/family member, executor or administrator in the form of either:
- A written statement on letterhead authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR
- A third party authority form in which the next of kin/family member, or executor or administrator gives permission to you to access the specified information
- Grant of Probate or Grant of Administration or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation (or overseas equivalent) in the name of the next of kin/family member of deceased, executor or administrator, or representative of the next of kin/family member, executor or administrator
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Deceased estate matters |
Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of a legal representative acting on behalf of the deceased trying to locate next of kin |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request for the specified information on official letterhead signed by the authorised delegate of the legal representative stating that they act on behalf of the deceased’s estate
- Court order under any law giving the legal representative authorisation to act on behalf of the deceased’s estate.
- Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity of authorised delegate of the legal representative
- Permission from the authorised delegate of the legal representative in the form of either:
- A written statement or letter head authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR
- A third party authority form in which the authorised delegate of the legal representative gives you permission to access the specified information
- The relevant fee.
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Other agent |
Financial institutions |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request on letterhead signed by an officer authorised to act on behalf of the institution setting out:
- The information you need
- The reason for the request
- Evidence that the deceased was a client (e.g. written statement of account)
- Proof of identity from an officer authorised to act on behalf of the institution (a certified copy of staff card is sufficient)
- The relevant fee.
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Letter of verification |
Administrative or research access |
Government, not-for-profit, research (e.g. universities) or commercial organisations |
Go to Apply for registry data
For more information, contact BDM using our contact us form and include 'data request' in your message.
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A written request using the online data request form setting out:
- The information you need
- The reasons for the request (e.g. explaining the administrative or research purpose for which you need the information)
- That you have the delegated authority to apply
- Human Research Ethics Committee approval (if applicable for research).
Pay the relevant fee.
Note: There may be additional requirements, depending on the nature of the request. BDM will advise you if this is the case.
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Data |
Statutory or government access |
Any Australian government or statutory body requiring access. For example:
- Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (Victoria)
- Centrelink
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Hospitals
- etc.
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Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request on letterhead signed by an authorised delegate setting out:
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Legal death certificate
Letter of verification
A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity
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Statutory or government access |
Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request on letterhead signed by an authorised delegate setting out:
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The statutory authority to obtain the information
If there is no statutory authority, provide permission (known as third party authority) and proof of identity from the entitled person
- The purpose for which the LEA seeks access
- The relevant fee.
Note: If a legal certificate from BDM is required, in addition to the requirements above, the application must:
- State that the purpose for which the LEA seeks access is for court proceedings
- Include a subpoena.
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A letter of verification
Legal death certificate
Information only certificate (cannot be used as proof of identity)
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Statutory or government access |
Consulates (from the country the registered person was born in or where the parent/guardian of the registered person resides) |
Go to Get a death certificate |
Apply for a certificate including:
- A written request on letterhead setting out:
- The information you need
- Any statutory authority you have to obtain the information
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The registered person's next of kin's permission (known as third party authority) and the next of kin's proof of identity
If you cannot provide the next of kin's permission, provide a written statement setting out:
- Why you cannot obtain their permission
- Your reason for seeking access to the information
- The relevant fee.
Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Learn more about the requirements for translated documents.
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A letter of verification
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Historical |
Anyone - for information about a person who died over 30 years ago. |
Visit Search your family history |
Visit Search your family history |
Uncertified historical image of certificate
Historical certificate
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