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Saturday, February 8, 2025

New death certificate to exclude cause

Grieving families will no longer have to share the cause of a loved one’s death as they navigate difficult administrative tasks following a loss, Victoria’s Attorney-General said today.

The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is now offering a new death certificate package, containing the original death certificate and a new legal death certificate, which has some sections removed, said Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes.

The new legal death certificate excludes the cause of death and burial information and is available immediately, allowing families to start managing the estate of the deceased quickly, she said.

“The death administration process is a really difficult thing to go through – we’re simplifying that and protecting the privacy of families and the loved ones they’re mourning,” the Attorney-General said.

She said the new certificate will be accepted for administration processes at organisations such as banks, government entities and utility companies.

The original death certificate listing cause of death will still be available, as it is required by superannuation and insurance companies.

The Attorney-General said the certificate package eases the burden of administering a deceased estate, by offering families the choice to censor sensitive information such as cause of death and cutting the waiting time for a certificate for deaths being investigated by the Coroner.

“We welcome these important changes. The new certificates will offer families privacy and dignity – especially in the context of losing a loved one in distressing circumstances,” said State Coroner, Judge John Cain.

Minister for Regulatory Reform, Danny Pearson said the new approach had been carefully developed in response to community feedback and advice from the Coronial Council of Victoria.

“We know that end-of-life administration is a difficult step during already challenging times for family and loved ones, streamlining the process is a small way we can support bereaved families when they need it most,” the Minister said.

The certificate package was made possible thanks to $750,000 in funding provided to Births, Deaths and Marriages from the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Regulatory Reform Incentive Fund.

The new death certificate is available via www.bdm.vic.gov.au/deaths/get-a-death-certificate

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