Families often assume that the cause of death paperwork provided by a doctor or the Coroner is the official death certificate. While this paperwork is essential for a cremation or burial, it is generally not useful for legal or financial matters.

The proof of death required by banks, government agencies, and other institutions is the death certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages in the relevant state or territory.

Note: you do not need the death certificate to access the funds of your loved one’s bank account to pay for funeral costs — see here.

How Long Does It Take to Receive a Death Certificate?

Since late February 2025, the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) has reduced processing times. The application is lodged after the burial or cremation. From that time, until it is finalised with BDM and received via Registered Post is 2 to 3 weeks in practice.

The only delays that might occur are due to errors in the paperwork from the doctor or other discrepancies.

In the ACT it can take up to 15 business days.

Who Receives the Death Certificate?

In NSW, the death certificate is usually sent to the person who arranged the funeral, even if they are not a family member, or directly to an executor. In the ACT, only certain family members can receive a copy.

Sometimes, certified copies of the death certificate are required. These can be made by photocopying the original at a library or Officeworks, then having it certified by a pharmacist or Justice of the Peace (JP). If needed, an additional death certificate can be obtained by a married or de facto partner, a parent, or a child of the person who has died.

Notifying Organisations

Once issued, many organisations can be notified at the same time through the Australian Death Notification Service.

Notifying Centrelink

Centrelink does not require a copy of the death certificate to update their records. It is best to advise them as soon as practical. They do not need proof but require the Advice of death form (SA116).