How to Register a Death in Australia, State by State

Every death in Australia has to be registered, and in most cases the funeral director does it for you. This guide explains how it works, the deadline in each state and territory, the details you'll be asked for, and how the death certificate is ordered.

By Anne G, reviewed by Andrew M · Last updated 5 October 2026 · Editorial standards

Key points

• Registration is done with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the state or territory where the person died.
• The funeral director usually registers the death and orders the death certificate for you.
• Deadlines are 7 or 14 days, and some states count from the funeral rather than the death.
• You'll be asked for personal details such as parents' names, occupation and children's names, so it helps to gather them early.
• Banks, super funds and government agencies usually ask for the death certificate, so consider how many copies you need.

Every death in Australia has to be officially registered. It's the step that creates the legal record of the death and lets a death certificate be issued, which banks, super funds and government agencies will ask to see. The good news is that you usually don't have to do it yourself. This guide explains how it works, the rules in each state and territory, and what you'll need to give the person who registers it.

Who Registers a Death?

In most cases, the funeral director registers the death for you, as part of their service. They use the medical certificate of the cause of death from the doctor and the personal details you give them, and they lodge everything with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state or territory where the person died.

If you're not using a funeral director, the person who arranges the burial or cremation is responsible for registering the death. Each registry explains how to do it yourself on its website.

How Long Do You Have to Register a Death?

The deadline is set by each state or territory. Some count from the burial or cremation, and some from the date of death. If you're using a funeral director, they'll keep track of it for you.

A note on Western Australia: the registry's guidance describes the 14 days as running from the funeral, while the law also refers to the date of death. The funeral director will know which applies.

A note on Tasmania: the law gives 7 days after the burial or cremation, while the registry's page also mentions 14 days from the death. Working to the earlier date keeps you inside both.

These rules were checked against each registry's official page on the date shown in the sources at the bottom of this page. Rules can change, so check the registry's own page if you're registering a death yourself.

What Details Will You Be Asked For?

The person registering the death needs information that only family usually knows. It helps to gather it early, even roughly. Registries commonly ask for:

• the person's full name, and any other names they were known by
• their date and place of birth
• their usual address
• their usual occupation during their working life
• marriage or relationship details, including partners' names
• the names of all their children
• the full names of both of their parents, including their mother's birth surname
• the date and place of death, and burial or cremation details.

Don't worry if there are gaps. Write down what you know, and say if anything is unknown. The funeral director can tell you what's essential.

What Does the Doctor Do?

Before a death can be registered, a doctor has to complete a medical certificate of the cause of death. According to healthdirect, this is done within 48 hours of the death. In South Australia, for example, doctors must notify the registry of a death within 48 hours.

If the death is reported to a coroner, the coroner's process takes the place of the doctor's certificate. That can mean registration, and the death certificate, take longer. The funeral director and the coroner's office will tell you what to expect.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate?

Once a death is registered, the registry can issue a death certificate. It's the official document most organisations ask for when you tell them someone has died.

• In most states, the funeral director orders the death certificate for you when they register the death. In Victoria, for example, you apply and pay for certificates when the registration is lodged.
• In the Northern Territory, a death certificate isn't issued automatically. It's a separate application, made after the funeral and once the death is registered.
• There's a fee for death certificates, which varies by state and territory. Registering the death itself is generally free.

Think about how many certified copies you'll need. Banks, super funds, insurers and the executor of the will may each ask to see one. Some organisations accept a certified copy, and others want to see the original.

What Happens After the Death Is Registered?

Several things can only happen once the death is registered:

• you can use the free Australian Death Notification Service to tell several organisations at once, such as banks, super funds and utilities
• the death certificate can be issued
• the executor can deal with the formal side of the estate, such as applying for probate and closing accounts, which usually needs a death certificate.

The executor doesn't have to wait for any of this to get started, though. Finding the will, helping arrange the funeral, and making sure the home, car and valuables are safe and insured are all jobs that begin straight away.

Our checklist of who to notify when someone dies walks through who to tell, and in what order.

For the steps before this, see what to do in the first 24 to 48 hours. For an overview of the whole process, see our guide to planning a funeral in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who registers a death in Australia? Usually the funeral director, as part of their service. If you're not using a funeral director, the person who arranges the burial or cremation registers the death with the registry in the state or territory where the person died.

How long do you have to register a death? It depends on the state or territory. In New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, it's within 7 days of the burial or cremation; in the Northern Territory, 7 working days. In Queensland it's within 14 days of the death, and in Western Australia it's 14 days.

How do I get a death certificate? In most states, the funeral director orders it for you when they register the death. A fee applies. You can also apply to the registry yourself once the death is registered.

Is there a fee to register a death? Registering a death itself is generally free; several registries, including those in South Australia and the ACT, say so. Death certificates do carry a fee, which varies by state and territory.

This guide is general information for people in Australia, not legal advice. How we write and check our guides is set out in our editorial standards.

Sources

1. NSW Government, Funeral directors (Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages) (checked 5 October 2026)
2. Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Register a death (checked 5 October 2026)
3. Queensland Government, Registering a death (checked 5 October 2026)
4. Government of Western Australia, Death registration and certificates (checked 5 October 2026)
5. Government of South Australia, Register a death (checked 5 October 2026)
6. Tasmanian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages, How to register a death (checked 5 October 2026)
7. Tasmanian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1999, section 37 (checked 5 October 2026)
8. Public Trustee Tasmania, What is an executor and what do they do? (checked 5 October 2026)
9. Access Canberra (ACT Government), Death registration (checked 5 October 2026)
10. Northern Territory Government, Register a death (checked 5 October 2026)
11. healthdirect (Australian Government), Preparing for a death at home (checked 5 October 2026)

About the author

Anne G writes Mixtape Memories' guides on the first steps after a death, from the first hours to registering the death and telling the people and organisations who need to know. She also reviews guides before they are published, checking that each one is accurate, clear and kind to read for someone in the middle of arranging a funeral. If a step could be simpler, or a word could land harder than intended, it gets changed.

Reviewed by Andrew M.