| Family access | - Informant on death certificate
- Next of kin
Family members** including: In relation to deceased adult: - The deceased's spouse or domestic partner
- The deceased's child or the guardian of the deceased's child
- The deceased's parent
In relation to a deceased child: - The child's parent
- The child's guardian immediately before death.
**Other family members may be entitled to the death certificate only if none of the family members listed above exist. | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: Proof of status examples include: - If you are a spouse or domestic partner at the time of death, you must be registered as the spouse or domestic partner of the deceased or provide relevant evidence
- If you are a child of the deceased, you must be registered as the child of the deceased or provide relevant evidence
- If you are the guardian of the deceased's child, you must provide evidence demonstrating that you have parental responsibility for the child
- If you are a parent of the deceased, you must be listed as the parent of the deceased on the deceased's birth certificate.
| Legal death certificate |
| Family access | Other relatives (not entitled persons) | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: | Legal death certificate |
| Deceased estate matters | Public trustees and trustee companies | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request on letterhead signed by the authorised delegate stating that the trustee acts on behalf of the deceased's estate
- Evidence that the delegate has authority to apply:
- Inclusion on a list of authorised delegates
- Letter of authority from next of kin
- Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration in the name of the public trustee or trustee company
- A Trust Deed appointing the company as the trustee of a trust
- Current, certified copy of proof of identity of delegate (if required)
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Executors | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Grant of Probate in the name of the executor or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Legal practitioners applying on behalf of an executor | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Permission from the executor in the form of either:
- A letter specifying the information that you can access
OR - A third party authority form in which the executor gives you permission to access the specified information.
- Grant of Probate in the name of the executor or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Applicant named in Letters of Administration or Advertised Notice of Intention | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Letters of Administration in the name of the applicant or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation.
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Legal practitioner applying on behalf of an applicant named in Letters of Administration | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - Your current, certified copy of proof of identity
- Current, certified proof of identity of the applicant named in Letters of Administration
- Permission from the applicant named in the Letters of Administration in the form of either:
- A letter specifying the information that you can access
OR - A third party authority form in which the applicant named in the Letters of Administration gives you permission to access the specified information
- Letters of Administration in the name of the applicant or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation.
- The relevant fee.
| Legal certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of the next of kin/family member of the deceased | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including - Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity of next of kin/family member of the deceased
- Permission from the next of kin/family member in the form of either:
- A written statement on letterhead (if applicable) authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR - A third party authority form in which the next of kin/family member of the deceased gives permission to you to access the specified information
- One of the following:
- Death certificate of the deceased that includes the next of kin/family member
- Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (or interstate/overseas equivalent) in the name of the next of kin/family member of deceased.
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of the executor or administrator | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity of the executor or administrator
- Permission from the executor or administrator in the form of either:
- A written statement on letterhead (if applicable) authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR - A third party authority form in which the executor or administrator gives permission to you to access the specified information.
- Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation (or interstate/overseas equivalent) in the name of the executor or administrator
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of a legal representative of the next of kin/family member of the deceased, executor or administrator | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request for the specified information on official letterhead signed by the authorised delegate of the legal representative stating that they act on behalf of the next of kin/family member of the deceased, executor or administrator
- A letter of authority from next of kin/family member of the deceased, executor or administrator that the authorised delegate of the legal representative is acting on their behalf
- Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity from the:
- Authorised delegate of the legal representative of the next of kin/family member, executor or administrator
AND - Next of kin/family member, or executor or administrator
- Permission from the legal representative of the next of kin/family member, executor or administrator in the form of either:
- A written statement on letterhead authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR - A third party authority form in which the next of kin/family member, or executor or administrator gives permission to you to access the specified information
- Grant of Probate or Grant of Administration or advertised notice of intention that states the applicant is applying for a grant of representation (or overseas equivalent) in the name of the next of kin/family member of deceased, executor or administrator, or representative of the next of kin/family member, executor or administrator
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Deceased estate matters | Authorised third party delegate applying on behalf of a legal representative acting on behalf of the deceased trying to locate next of kin | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request for the specified information on official letterhead signed by the authorised delegate of the legal representative stating that they act on behalf of the deceased’s estate
- Court order under any law giving the legal representative authorisation to act on behalf of the deceased’s estate.
- Your current, certified copies of proof of identity
- Current, certified copies of proof of identity of authorised delegate of the legal representative
- Permission from the authorised delegate of the legal representative in the form of either:
- A written statement or letter head authorising you to apply on their behalf and specifying the information that you can access
OR - A third party authority form in which the authorised delegate of the legal representative gives you permission to access the specified information
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Other agent | Financial institutions | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request on letterhead signed by an officer authorised to act on behalf of the institution setting out:
- The information you need
- The reason for the request
- Evidence that the deceased was a client (e.g. written statement of account)
- Proof of identity from an officer authorised to act on behalf of the institution (a certified copy of staff card is sufficient)
- The relevant fee.
| Letter of verification |
| Administrative or research access | Government, not-for-profit, research (e.g. universities) or commercial organisations | Go to Apply for registry data For more information, contact BDM using our contact us form and include 'data request' in your message. | A written request using the online data request form setting out: - The information you need
- The reasons for the request (e.g. explaining the administrative or research purpose for which you need the information)
- That you have the delegated authority to apply
- Human Research Ethics Committee approval (if applicable for research).
Pay the relevant fee. Note: There may be additional requirements, depending on the nature of the request. BDM will advise you if this is the case. | Data |
| Statutory or government access | Any Australian government or statutory body requiring access. For example: - Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (Victoria)
- Centrelink
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Hospitals
- etc.
| Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request on letterhead signed by an authorised delegate setting out:
- The information you need
The statutory authority to obtain the information If you do not have statutory authority, you must provide permission (known as third party authority) and proof of identity from the entitled person - Certified proof of the authorised delegate's identity (staff identification card is sufficient)
- The relevant fee.
| Legal death certificate Letter of verification A certificate that cannot be used as proof of identity |
| Statutory or government access | Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request on letterhead signed by an authorised delegate setting out:
The statutory authority to obtain the information If there is no statutory authority, provide permission (known as third party authority) and proof of identity from the entitled person - The purpose for which the LEA seeks access
- The relevant fee.
Note: If a legal certificate from BDM is required, in addition to the requirements above, the application must: - State that the purpose for which the LEA seeks access is for court proceedings
- Include a subpoena.
| A letter of verification Legal death certificate Information only certificate (cannot be used as proof of identity) |
| Statutory or government access | Consulates (from the country the registered person was born in or where the parent/guardian of the registered person resides) | Go to Get a death certificate | Apply for a certificate including: - A written request on letterhead setting out:
- The information you need
- Any statutory authority you have to obtain the information
The registered person's next of kin's permission (known as third party authority) and the next of kin's proof of identity If you cannot provide the next of kin's permission, provide a written statement setting out: - Why you cannot obtain their permission
- Your reason for seeking access to the information
- The relevant fee.
Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Learn more about the requirements for translated documents. | A letter of verification |
| Historical | Anyone - for information about a person who died over 30 years ago. | Visit Search your family history | Visit Search your family history | Uncertified historical image of certificate Historical certificate |
