Death Certificate Access Policy

Type of Access

Applicant

Specific requirements

Historical Access

Anyone (must be 16 years of age or over)

For deaths 25 years old or more

Family Access

Spouse (including defacto but not former spouse or defacto see below)
Parent
Child

Restricted, unless the applicant can provide:
Evidence of relationship e.g. named on death certificate, copy of marriage certificate
Evidence of defacto relationship can include evidence of same address, joint bank accounts, joint utility accounts

Non-parental custodian or guardian

Document establishing custody or guardianship

Other relative
Former spouse or defacto

Restricted, unless the applicant can provide:
Written authority from a person entitled to the certificate as identified in this policy document; or
Evidence that the certificate is required for some legal right or entitlement; or
Evidence that there is no other living relative

Deceased Estate Matter

Executor or Administrator
Public Trustee

Application must be on business letterhead, or must show evidence of applicant's executor, administrator or trustee status

Welfare

Government or non-Government Welfare Agency

Application must be on business letterhead and must be acting in the interests of or with the written authority of the next of kin of the person named in the certificate

Court - State or Federal

--

Application must be on Court letterhead or Court Order provided

Law Enforcement

Any Government body dealing in law enforcement e.g. Police, Anti Corruption Commission, Courts etc

Application must be on business letterhead and must be made in pursuance of an investigation or preparation of a prosecution or pursuant to a valid warrant or Court Order
Does not include debt collectors or private investigators

Medical Access

Medical organisations or government body requiring to contact persons with a potentially life threatening medical condition

Applications must be made on business letterhead and referred to Registrar for consideration
For general medical research enquiries refer to Registrar for consideration

Government Bodies - Statutory Access

Any Government body having right of access under Federal or State legislation e.g. Child Support Agency, Centrelink, Department for Community Development

Application must be on business letterhead or approved form e.g. Child Support Agency verification form

Solicitor

--

Application must be on business letterhead and the Solicitor must be acting for a person entitled to access under "Family Access" or access for "Deceased Estate Matter"

Funeral Director

--

Funeral Director applications must be received with the death registration form or within three months following the deceased's date of death. Applications after this time will be treated under "Other Agent"

Other Agent (including Consulates)

Any person with written authority from a person entitled to the certificate as identified in this policy document; or
Power of Attorney

Identification documents of a person entitled to the certificate as stated in this policy document also required
Documentary evidence of Power of Attorney required

Benefit

Credit company, Superannuation fund, Trust fund,Bank, Life insurance exchange policy companies

To enable payment of benefits to next of kin or other beneficiary. Application to be on business letterhead