How do I get a death certificate?
A death is registered with the local municipal corporation, municipality or gram panchayat, ideally within 21 days. The hospital usually issues the medical cause-of-death form; the registrar then issues certified copies. Get at least eight to ten copies — every bank, fund, insurer and office will want an original or attested copy, and nothing else moves until you have them.
Where and how to register
Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969, a death in a hospital is reported by the hospital; a death at home is reported by the head of the household to the local registrar — the municipal corporation in cities, the panchayat in villages. Most states now let you apply and download certified copies online through the municipal or e-district portal.
You will need the medical certificate of cause of death, the deceased's identity proof, and the informant's identity proof. Check the spelling of the name against the deceased's PAN and bank records before the certificate is printed: a mismatch here follows you into every subsequent claim.
The deadline, and what to do if you missed it
Registration within 21 days is free. Between 21 and 30 days a late fee applies. After 30 days you need an affidavit and the registrar's permission; after a year, an order from a magistrate. None of this is impossible — it is just slower each step, so register early even in the fog of the first weeks.
How many copies, and why
Every institution keeps a copy. A family with two bank accounts, an insurance policy, a provident fund and some shares can easily need eight originals or attested copies. Copies are cheap at the time of registration and tedious to obtain later, so over-order.
Once you have the certificate, the next step is working out what each institution will ask for — which depends on nomination and the amount involved. Our guide on claiming a bank account after a death walks through that.
Find out what your case needs
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Last reviewed 2026-08-31. This is general information, not legal advice. Institution requirements change — confirm before you file.