Get a death certificate

The death of a family member or friend is a difficult time.

In most cases, you won't need to apply for a death certificate because the funeral director will do it for you.

However, if you do need to apply yourself, we can only issue a death certificate after the death is registered.

Did the person die over 30 years ago?

If you're looking for a death certificate for someone who died over 30 years ago, use our family history search tool. You won't need to provide proof of identity or proof of eligibility.

What we need from you

We'll ask you for the following information during the application process:

1. Details of the person named on the certificate

At minimum, we ask for:

Your name and date of birth
Name and age of the person that's died
Your relationship to that person
Date and place of death.

2. Proof of your identity

You may be able to prove your identity online. If not you can still prove your identity in other ways. These include:

Taking certified copies of your identity documents to our Customer Service Centre or a Justice Service Centre
Mailing certified copies to us.

Acceptable documents

One of the easiest ways to prove your identity is by presenting your driver licence (if it confirms your residential address) and your Passport.

Alternatively, you can provide your driver licence, medicare card and bank card.

Alternatively, there are other ways to prove your identity.

3. Proof you're eligible to get the certificate

You need to prove your status as next of kin in order to get the death certificate. Examples of the proof you can provide is below.

If you're not the next of kin, you additionally need to provide proof of your own identity and third party authority from the next of kin.

If you're the partner or spouse of the deceased

your name on the deceased's death registration
your and your partner's names on your marriage certificate
evidence that you were living together in a domestic relationship at the time of death

If you're the child of the deceased

your name on the deceased's death registration
your own birth certificate showing the name of your parent

If you're the parent of the deceased

your name on the deceased's death registration
your child's birth certificate showing you as the parent

Timeframes and delivery

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

Processing start date	Processing time	Pick up/delivery
Date received Full application with eligibility and proof of identity documents	7 days (1 week) for deaths in the last 3 months Otherwise 28 days (4 weeks)	Pickup 595 Collins Street Melbourne or 6 days Australia Post

Processing start date

Processing time

Pick up/delivery

Date received

Full application
with eligibility and
proof of identity documents

7 days (1 week) for deaths in the last 3 months

Otherwise 28 days (4 weeks)

Pickup
595 Collins Street
Melbourne

6 days
Australia Post

Track the progress of your certificate (External link)

Additional copies

If you applied for more than one copy of a death certificate, each will be posted separately for security reasons, unless you asked for them to be sent by Registered or Express Post.

We'll post them all on the same day, but Australia Post may deliver them on different days.

Fees and payment

Certificate fees

Legal certificate	Interim certificate
$33.80	$33.80
Accepted as an official Australian death certificate.	An interim death certificate is issued when a death is still being investigated by the Coroner. The certificate doesn't record the cause of death. Valid for most official purposes, but not all. A legal certificate is needed once the Coroner establishes the cause of death.

Legal certificate

Interim certificate

$33.80

Accepted as an official Australian death certificate.

An interim death certificate is issued when a death is still being investigated by the Coroner. The certificate doesn't record the cause of death.

Valid for most official purposes, but not all.
A legal certificate is needed once the Coroner establishes the cause of death.

Postage fees

We can't refund shipping fees if you decide to collect your certificate(s) in person.

Postage within Australia
Postage within Australia	Cost
Registered post (recommended	$7.60
Standard post/Handling	$1.00
Express post Note: This is not a priority service fee - standard Turnaround times still apply.	$8.00

Postage outside Australia
Postage outside Australia	Cost
Airmail (standard post)	$3.80
Express courier international	$54.10

See Australia Post (External link) for product details.

Check the Payment methods we accept.

Apply now (External link)