|
Death Certificate
What is a Death Certificate and Why
is it Needed?
A Death Certificate is a document issued by the Government
to the nearest relatives of the deceased, stating the
date, fact and cause of death. It is essential to register
death to prove the time and date of death, to establish
the fact of death for relieving the individual from
social, legal and official obligations, to enable settlement
of property inheritance, and to authorise the family
to collect insurance and other benefits.
The Legal Framework
In India, it is mandatory under the law (as per the
Registration of Births & Deaths Act, 1969) to register every
death with the concerned State/UT Government within
21 days of its occurrence. The Government accordingly
has provided for a well-defined system for registration
of Death, with the Registrar General, India, at the
centre and the Chief Registrars in States, running through
district registrars to the village and town registrars
at the periphery.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Death Certificate
A death can be reported and registered by the head of
the family, in case it occurs in a house; by the medical
in-charge if it occurs in a hospital; by the jail in-charge
if it occurs in a jail; and by the headman of the village
or the in-charge of the local police station in case
the body is found deserted in that area.
To apply for a Death Certificate, you must first register
the death. The death has to be registered with the concerned
local authorities within 21 days of its occurrence,
by filling up the form prescribed by the Registrar.
Death Certificate is then issued after proper verification.
If a death is not registered within 21 days of its occurrence,
permission from the Registrar/Area Magistrate, along
with the fee prescribed in case of late registration,
is required.
The application form in which you are required to apply
is usually available with the area’s local body authorities,
or with the Registrar who maintains the Register of Deaths.
You might also need to submit proof of birth of the deceased,
an affidavit specifying the date and time of death, a
copy of the ration card, and the required fee in the form
of court fee stamps. |
