The death certificate is an essential document for initiating any type of action following the death of a loved one. This document validates a death, which in turn allows administrative and legal procedures to begin. Knowing how to obtain it is the first step in the funeral process, as it marks the beginning of the necessary steps to resolving the legal, financial and personal aspects of the deceased.
What is the death certificate and why is it needed?
The death certificate is a document that legally proves the death of a person. It is essential to have it in order to be able to carry out any kind of death-related procedure, such as arranging inheritance or accessing insurance cover. Anyone can apply for it, with certain exceptions. The death certificate can be obtained online free of charge, as well as in other formats depending on your needs.
Importance of the death certificate
It is important because its registration in the Civil Registry extinguishes the legal personality of the deceased, which directly affects their legal existence and associated rights.
With regard to the difference between the death certificate and the medical death certificate, the first type of document certifies the death at a legal level, while the second one certifies the expiry of a person's life at a medical level.
Now that we know the difference between these two types of death certificates, let’s focus on what the legal death certificate is for.
Official death registration
The death certificate acts as an official record of death. This formalises the extinction of the legal personality of the deceased and allows the process to begin which terminates their existence on a legal level.
Legal and administrative aspects
This document is therefore key in the management of post-mortem legal and administrative aspects, such as the processing of inheritances, cancellation of services and insurance claims, to name just a few examples.
Contents of the death certificate
The death certificate must contain specific and detailed information in order to be considered legally valid, which should be the absolute priority. This official document includes personal details of the deceased, the cause and place of death, information about the doctor certifying the death and the details of the relevant civil registry.
This is why it is advisable to know what the death certificate should look like, even before applying for it.
Personal details of the deceased
It is essential that the personal details of the deceased appear on the death certificate. This means that details such as full name, date of birth, place of birth, personal identification number (such as DNI or NIE in Spain), nationality, and marital status must be included.
All these details serve to uniquely identify the person who has died.
Cause and place of death
This section describes the medical cause of death, classified according to the international guidelines for the certification of death. The exact place where the death occurred, whether at home, in a healthcare facility or any other setting, should also be included.
Information about the certifying doctor
The certificate should include the details of the doctor certifying the death, such as their full name, registration number and signature. This information is key in order to validate the document and guarantee that the cause of death has been determined by a qualified professional.
Civil registry details
The document must also contain the details of the civil registry where the death was registered, including the registration number, the date of registration and the official seal of the entity.
Process to obtain a death certificate
Now that it is clear what the death certificate is, it is necessary to understand that in order to get it, certain steps must be followed and the necessary documentation must be presented.
Steps to follow
The first step is to inform a competent authority about the person's death. This can be done at the hospital, in a clinic if the death occurred there, or by having a doctor certify the death. Then, once the medical certificate of death has been issued, it is necessary to go to the corresponding Civil Registry Office to formalise the application for the death certificate.
Documentation required
To apply for the certificate, it is necessary to present the official identification of both the deceased and the applicant, as well as the medical death certificate. In some cases, additional documentation may be required such as the marital status or nationality of the deceased.
Places of issue
The death certificate is issued in the Civil Registry of the place where the death occurred. If the death occurred abroad, it is possible to apply for it at the nearest consular office.
Who can apply for it? Deadlines and important things to consider
When applying for a death certificate, any person can apply for it, although it is usually the next of kin or legal representatives of the deceased who do so. It is important, however, to do so within the deadlines established by law, which may vary depending on the region. Once requested, it may take around 15 working days for the Civil Registry to issue the death certificate. If you have any queries, contact us and we will give you all the information you will need.
