Queensland - Obtain a Death Certificate

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Procedure

To apply for a death certificate, you must:

• Meet the eligibility criteria
• Complete the Death certificate application form
• Provide proof of your identity (unless you are applying for a historical death certificate)
• Pay the scheduled fee for a standard certificate (fee includes postage within Australia).
• Lodge your application form by post or in person at our Brisbane Registry, or in person at your *local Queensland Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office.
• If you need your certificate urgently, you can pay the priority processing fee

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Required Documents

• Before a certificate, information or source document is released, an applicants entitlement to the document must be established and proof of identity produced in accordance with the eligibility criteria.
• Photocopies must be certified by a qualified witness as being "a correct copy of the document".
• Applicants are required to provide:
  • One form of identification from each list (at least one containing a signature); or
  • Two forms of identification from List 2 and one form of identification from List 3 (at least one containing a signature), if unable to provide identification from List 1.

List 1: Linkage between identity and person

• Current Australian photo drivers licence, front and back
• Current Australian passport
• Current overseas passport
• Current Australian Firearms licence
• Current Defence Force or Police Service photo ID card
• Adult Proof of Age Card

List 2: Evidence of identity operating in the community

• Current Medicare card
• Current financial institution debit or credit card with your signature and full name or passbook
• Current entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth or State Government
• Educational institution student identity document (must include photo and/or signature) or statement of enrolment
• School or other educational report, less than twelve months old
• Current document of identity issued by the Passport Office
• Naturalisation, citizenship or immigration papers issued by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
• Full birth certificate
• Security guard/crowd control licence.

List 3: Evidence of residential address

• Recent utility account (gas, electricity, home phone, etc) with current residential address
• Recent financial institution statement with current residential address
• Rent/lease agreement with current residential address
• Rates notice with current residential address
• A renewal notice for vehicle registration showing current residential address; or a renewal notice for driver licence showing current residential address
• Recent official correspondence from Government Service Providers (not from this agency) with current residential address.

• Proof of identity documents are to be in the English language, otherwise these must be translated by an accredited translator. The official translation document is to accompany the original documents.
• The Registrar-General's discretion in deciding acceptable proof of identity documents is not exhausted by the above lists. Decisions may be made by the Registrar-General on any unusual case that may fall outside the requirements of the above table.

Certification of photocopies of proof of identity documents

• As part of establishing proof of identity, copies of documents submitted to the Registry in support of an application must be certified as a true and correct copy by a qualified witness.
• The following persons are considered to be qualified witnesses and are able to certify photocopies of documents as being a correct copy of the document:
  • Justice of the Peace
  • Commissioner for Declarations
  • Barrister/Solicitor
  • Notary Public.
• If you are submitting your application at the Brisbane Registry, a Magistrates Court or a Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office, client service officers are able to sight original proof of identity documents submitted in support of your application. Contact registry for further information on certification.

Office Locations & Contacts

Address

110 George Street

Brisbane QLD 4000

Postal address

PO Box 15188

City East QLD 4002

Office hours

Monday - Friday; 8.30 am-4.30 pm

Phone

1300 366 430 (local call charge within Australia, mobiles charged at applicable rates)

Overseas Callers Only

International Access Code + 61 7 3404 3343 (call charges will apply)

Email

[email protected]

Queensland Magistrates Court http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/contact-us/courthouses

Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office http://www.qld.gov.au/about/contact-government/contacts/government-service-offices/

Eligibility

• You are eligible to apply for a copy of a persons death certificate if you are any of the following to the person:
  • Spouse, parent or child
  • Sibling (where the deceased has no surviving spouse, children or parents)
  • Legal custodian or guardian (you must show proof that you had custody or guardianship of the deceased)
  • Executor of will or estate (you must show proof of your executor status and give a reason for your application)
  • Solicitor, financial institution, statutory body or government agency (you must show proof that your firm/agency represented the deceased, proof of your employment and give a reason for your application)
  • Funeral director (when applying on behalf of a person eligible to receive a copy of the deceased persons death certificate).
• Any person is eligible to receive a copy of a deceased persons death certificate if the death occurred more than 30 years ago. This type of death certificate is known as a historical death certificate.

Fees

• Each certified copy: $ 39.00
• Historical certificates: $ 39.00

Payment Options

• If you are lodging your form in person, you may pay by cash, cheque, credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or money order.
• If you are posting your form, you may pay by cheque, credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or money order.
• Make cheques or money orders payable to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

By Mail

• Priority requests for certificates will be processed within 48 hours of the receipt of a correct application.

In Person

• Applications made at our Brisbane Registry will be available for pick up the next business day.

Related Videos

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Instructions

• Queensland Government registers all deaths that occur in Queensland. A death must be registered before you can get a death certificate.
• If the death occurred outside Queensland, you will need to apply to the registering authority in the place where the death occurred to get a certificate.
• You can lodge your form by post, in person at our Brisbane Registry, or in person at your local Queensland Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office.
• Pay the scheduled fees either as Cash, Cheques, Money order, Credit Card. Make cheques or money orders payable to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
• Applications cannot be faxed or emailed.

Required Information

Applicant details

• Applicants Name
• Postal Address
• Reason certificate is required
• Your relationship to the person named on the certificate
• Telephone Number
• Date of Application

Certificate Details

• Full name (Sur Name and Given Names)
• Date of Death
• Place of Death
• Mothers Name
• Fathers Name
• Residential Address

Need for the Document

Queensland Government registers all deaths that occur in Queensland. A death must be registered before you can get a death certificate.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

A death certificate provides legal evidence of a persons death and used to get all the death benefits to their beloved ones.

External Links

Queensland Government Death Certificate http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/deaths/death-certificate

Registering authority in Australia Interstate and overseas enquiries http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/other-jurisdictions

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