If there's an error on a death certificate, you can apply to have it corrected.
Refer to the ‘Evidence required’ tab for common changes and the evidence you’ll need to provide.
What we need from you
We'll ask you for the following:
1. Details of the person on the certificate
As a minimum, we ask for:
- Given name and family name
- Date and place of death.
2. The original death certificate
We ask you to return the original death certificate before we can issue a corrected version. that you return the original death certificate before we can issue a new corrected version.
If you return the original certificate, the replacement is free. (You may need to pay postage and handling charges.)
If you don't return the original, you will need to:
- Pay for the new certificate, and
- Provide a statutory declaration explaining why you can't return the original
Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.
3. Evidence to support the correction
The evidence we need depends on the correction you want to make.
For documents in a language other than English, provide an English translation by a qualified translator. Learn more about translated documents.
4. Proof of your identity
Acceptable documents
The easiest way to prove your identity is with your driver licence (if it confirms your residential address) and your Passport.
If you don’t have these, you can provide other identity documents.
To provide identity documents:
• Send certified copies to us by post or by email (External link)
• Bring your original documents to one of our locations.
Evidence required
The evidence listed below covers the most common correction requests. If you can't provide the evidence listed, we will contact you if we require more evidence.
If we hold the evidence (e.g. a birth certificate) you don't need to provide a copy of it.
| Correction | Acceptable evidence |
|---|---|
|
Any name on the certificate |
Either a birth certificate, citizenship certificate or overseas passport relevant to the name being corrected. |
| Date, place or cause of death | Evidence of correct information, supported by an email (first preference) or letter of consent from the certifying Doctor, the Coroner or a Treating Consultant. |
| Date or place of marriage | Marriage certificate (interstate or overseas marriage). |
| Relationship status (married or divorced) |
One of the following:
|
| Relationship status and/or name of domestic (de facto) partner |
For death registration purposes, a domestic relationship is defined broadly to include both:
The full definition of domestic relationship can be found in Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulations 2019 (External link). To add or remove the name of a person who was in a domestic relationship with the deceased, supporting evidence must be provided. Examples of evidence that a person was in a domestic relationship with the deceased include:
|
| Previous children (names or ages) |
One of the following:
|
Timeframes and delivery
How long will it take?
Check our certificate turnaround times.
If it's urgent, apply online then contact us.
Fees and payment
| If the original death certificate is returned | If the original death certificate IS NOT returned |
|---|---|
| No fee |
$33.80
The price of a legal death certificate applies |
Postage fees
Postage within Australia
| Type of certificate | Postage and handling method | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Legal certificate | Express post | $10.00 |
Postage outside Australia
| Type of certificate | Postage and handling method | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Legal certificate | International express | $54.10 |
See Australia Post (External link) for product details.
Check the Payment methods we accept.