Death certificates

Death certificates are issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM). There is a fee for death certificates, which may be included as part of the funeral costs. In most cases, you won’t need to apply directly for a death certificate - the funeral director will usually do it for you.

BDM will issue the death certificate to the person who the funeral director listed as the informant. If you were not the one making the funeral arrangements, you may be eligible to apply directly to BDM for a copy of the death certificate.

BDM offers different types of certificates depending on your needs and whether the coroner has determined cause of death.

Death Certificate – without cause of death

This legal certificate does not include sensitive information about your loved one, such as the cause of death, burial information, or registration date.

This certificate can be issued if the coroner has not yet established the cause of death and it can be used with organisations which do not require you to provide the cause of your loved one’s death. It is always best to check with the organisation you are dealing with to see if they will accept the death certificate without case of death.

Death certificate – with cause of death

This legal certificate includes all details about your loved one, including sensitive information such as the cause of death, burial information, and registration date. This certificate can be provided to any organisation that asks you to prove the death of your loved one has occurred.

Note: the coroner must have determined cause of death before BDM can issue this certificate.

Interim death certificate

Interim death certificates are used if you need to repatriate your loved one to their own country. This can be issued if the coroner has not yet established the cause of death.