Death Certificate Service

No matter how much we run from it, death is something that none of us can really escape. Someone once said, paperwork is what separates us from the animals and just like everyone another human process, death also has a tonne of paperwork that needs to be handled. For starters, deaths have to be authenticated by medical professionals, and the process has to be carried out in all fairness by doctors. If a medical practitioner fails to issue a death certificate it can have multiple legal implications and issues for the family of the deceased. 

All the facts relating to the person’s death have to be verified by the medical practitioner before issuing a death certificate and cannot issue one under any pressure. The cause of death or probable cause of death needs to be mentioned, and doctors should do their utmost to mention it, but it should be concluded only on clinical findings and not extraneous factors.

Purpose of Obtaining Death Certificate

Death certificates are essential for the following below-given purposes.

• A death certificate is documentary proof for the cause of death of a person.
• Death certificate gives information related to the time of death, date of death and place of death of a person.
• A death certificate can be used to relieve the person from social, legal and official commitments.
• To settle the property inheritance, a death certificate is one of the mandatory documents.
• The death certificate is enabling the family member of the deceased to collect insurance and other benefits.
• A death certificate is also used for genealogical information.

Who Can Register Death?

The death of an individual has to be registered within 21 days from the date of death. The following persons will register the death in Delhi:

• If death occurs in the house, the head of the household is eligible to register the death in the concerned Registrar Office.
• If a death happens in the hospital, an authorizable person of the medical institution is responsible for recording /registering the death in the respective Registrar Office.
• If death occurs in jail, the jail in-charge can register the death with the concerned Registrar Office.
• If death occurs in a public place, the local police in-charge or headman of the village can record the death.

Required Documents

While applying for the certificate, submit the following documents:

• Proof of birth of the deceased
• An affidavit specifying the time and date of the death
• The required fee in the form of court fee stamps
• A copy of the ration card.
• Aadhar Card.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Note: The person who is applying for a death certificate requires to provide the proof of relationship with the deceased person, complete address and proof of nationality.

Registration Fees

The Government fee to obtain a death certificate in Delhi is provided below:

• When registering death within 21 days of its occurrence are free of cost.
• When registering death within 21 to 30 days after the death, then the Medical Officer, Health (MOH) will certify, collecting a fine of Rs.25 from the applicant.
• After 30 days to within one year of death, only the Joint Director of Statistics can provide the certificate with a fine of Rs.50 and an affidavit.
• If registering death after a year, the applicant can get the certificate by order of a first-class magistrate, for which the applicant will need the Cause of Death Certificate, Cremation Certificate and an Affidavit.