Death Certificate India
State-wise Application Guide 2026

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📋What is a Death Certificate and Why Do You Need It?

A death certificate is an official government document that legally certifies the fact, date, time, place, and cause of a person's death. In India, death registration and the issuance of death certificates are governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, and the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023.

The certificate is issued by the local Registrar of Births and Deaths — the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Committee, Gram Panchayat, or Cantonment Board, depending on where the death occurred. The Central Government's CRSORGI portal (crsorgi.gov.in) enables online registration and certificate download across all states.

Death must be registered within 21 days of occurrence. Registration within 21 days is completely free. Late registration attracts a nominal fee and, beyond 30 days, may require additional permissions. After 1 year, a Magistrate's order is required.

The death certificate is required for a wide range of purposes: claiming inheritance and settling the estate, transferring property and land records to legal heirs, claiming life insurance and pension benefits, closing or transferring bank accounts, obtaining widow or widower pension, cancelling the deceased's Aadhaar and voter ID, and as proof for remarriage. Under the 2023 amendment, the Aadhaar number of the deceased must be linked at the time of registration.

⏱️Key Facts — Death Certificate Registration

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