Save your work regularly
Save at regular intervals to avoid losing your work.
After 30 minutes of inactivity, you will be automatically logged out of your account. This increases security for people using shared computers. If you see a session timeout warning, make sure to save your work.
What displays on the death certificate
Enter the details exactly as you want them on the certificate. This includes capitalisation (e.g. capital for the first letter).
Relationship details
You need to provide:
- Full name of the spouse or partner prior to entering the marriage / relationship
- Year and place of the marriage or relationship registration
If the deceased was divorced, or their spouse/partner passed before they did
Enter this relationship into two sections: Deceased’s relationship details and Previous relationship details.
- Select the relationship status at time of death (see the table below for guidance)
- Include this relationship when selecting the number of previous relationships
- Enter the former or deceased spouse/partner details in the previous relationships section
If the deceased was in a relationship and their partner passed before they did – select Surviving partner (of domestic relationship). This applies to registered and unregistered domestic relationships. ‘Surviving partner’ is equivalent to ‘widowed’ for unmarried couples.
| If the deceased was… | Select: Relationship status at time of death | Select: Previous relationship type |
|---|---|---|
| Divorced | Divorced | Married |
| Widowed | Widowed | Married |
| Registered relationship (partner deceased) | Surviving partner (of domestic relationship) | Registered relationship |
| De facto relationship (partner deceased) | Surviving partner (of domestic relationship) | Domestic partner |
Unsure of marital status
If the deceased was in a relationship, but you're unsure of their marital status: select ‘Unknown’
If the family is unsure of a name
If the family is unsure of a name, for example a woman’s name before marriage:
- our system will cross check with all our other data to try and find a match
- if we aren’t sure, we’ll contact you to verify
Occupation
When you provide a person's occupation, choose one from the list.
A person's occupation might not be the same as their job title:
- ‘Occupation’ is a broad term for a type of work
- ‘Job titles’ are created by business for their staff. These may be unique and often change. The list cannot contain all possible job titles.
If the list does not have an exact match, choose the most relevant occupation.
Children’s surname
We ask this question as part of our upgraded privacy protection measures. It helps ensure we only release future copies of the death certificate to authorised people.
Stillbirths
Medical practitioners determine if a child is stillborn.
A stillbirth isn't classed as a death. Funeral directors don't need to register stillbirths, but you might need to complete paperwork under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003.
Disposal details
Anatomical
The body is donated to The University of Melbourne Anatomical and Neuroscience Department for research purposes. Enter the name of the person who received the body, for example Professor Jane Smith, Head of Department.
Sent overseas
The body is sent overseas for burial or cremation.
Attach supporting documents
In the death registration form:
- Save the form
- At the Action list at the top of the form, select Add document and Go
- Select the details describing the type of document
- Choose file to browse your computer and select the file to upload
- Save
Next steps