How to get Death Certificate

Requirement of a Death Certificate:

A Death Certificate is very much essential to relieve a dead person from social, legal and official obligations. In case of settlement of property inheritance and authorization of the family to collect insurance, provident fund and other benefits, the relatives have to submit the Death Certificate of the concerned person. If the family members suspect that some kind of criminal action has occurred during the death, the death certificate helps in clarifying their doubt. 
If the cause of the death is not sensitive, it is written as accidental or natural death in the certificate.
To get the Death Certificate, the first thing has to be done is registration of death.

Following are the persons who can report and register the death:

• The head of the family if the person dies inside the house
• The hospital in-charge if the person dies in a medical
• The jail in-charge if the death occurs in a jail
• The village head or the local police station in-charge if the dead body is found deserted in that locality
Registration of the death is essential before applying for the Death Certificate. It has to be done with the local authorities within 21 days of the death. Prescribed form by the registrar has to be filled in. After proper verification the certificate will be issued.

If within 21 days, the death has not been reported permission from the Registrar or Area Magistrate is required and a fee has to be paid for late registration. 
The application form has to be collected from the local authority of the area or the Registrar maintaining the Register of Deaths. 

Following are the details to be submitted to apply for Death Certificate:

• Birth Certificate or proof of birth
• An affidavit indicating the date and time of the death
• A copy of ration card
• Specified fee in the form of court fee stamps
Legal Framework for Death Certificate:
Indian Registration of Births & Deaths Act, 1969 states that all the deaths should be registered with concerned state or Union Territory Government within 21 days of death. A well-organized system is available with the Registrar General, India at central level and the Chief Registrars in States. District registrars in the village and town registrars at the periphery are also equipped with such system.
According to the rules of every state, usually the Secretary of the village local body or any village official, the officer of the local police station, a sub-divisional head or Block Development Officer, a local health functionary, or a teacher of a government school performs the duties of the local Registrar.
Procedure of applying for the death certificate differs from state to state and place to place. It depends on the local authorities completely. Hence, one has to contact concerned local authority of death registration to obtain the death certificate.