CERTIFICATION OF DEATH AND ITS IMPORTANCE
A death certificate is an official document that is needed for various essential purposes. It is a primary document that mentions the date, time, and cause of death. The death certificate is used in the following cases:
Inheritance of property
Insurance settlement
Other legal claims to be processed
According to the Registration of Births and Death act, 1969, there are chief registrars at the state level and also at the district level that helps one to discharge the function of registration.
WHO NEEDS TO REPORT AND WHEN?
As the customary and religious rituals are carried out by the family of the deceased, the death in the house needs to be reported within 21 days of its occurrence by the head of the family or the closest relative. In case the death happening in a hospital, the medical in-charge or the chief medical officer needs to report or the jail in-charge if the deceased person has taken his last breaths in prison. Although, the act stipulates these rules for certain circumstances, in case of ordinary death, anyone from the family-the oldest male or any relative can also request to obtain the death certificate.
In medical cases, the practitioner who has taken care of the deceased in his/her last days is required to provide a certificate with the cause of death, without taking any fee.
WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED?
Some of these documents or all of these can be asked for by the registrar in your state before issuing a death certificate:
Proof of age – birth certificate
Affidavit mentioning the date and time of death
Address proof ( rental agreement or lease agreement)
Copy of ration card
It is stated under the RBD act that the registrar needs to enter the name of the deceased in the record without asking for any fee or reward.
The person who has approached the registrar needs to furnish the documents and clearly specify his/her relationship with the deceased.
CAN THE DEATH CERTIFICATE BE OBTAINED ONLINE?
Although some states have the facility of the required documents being uploaded, several other states still ask for the physical submission of documents. Some states require additional information like proof from the crematorium along with a doctor’s report of death with his/her signatures.
In states like New Delhi and Chandigarh, the hospitals can issue death certificates online and can be obtained by the family of the deceased without having to visit the hospital physically.
A print out of this form needs to be completely filled and submitted to the local registrar’s office, and the applicant can also track the progress of the form using online using their account. However, this online application facility is NOT available if the death is reported after 21 days of its occurrence.
If there is a delay of more than 30 days in reporting the death, it can be done with the written permission proof of the registrar and an affidavit from the notary public.