Death certificates are government-issued documents that contain information about a deceased individual’s cause of death, location of death, and time of death.
There may be a variety of reasons to obtain a death certificate. The most common reason is to provide proof in legal proceedings. Funeral arrangements, estate settlements, claims for life insurance, pension benefits, and marriage (when proving the death of a previous partner) may be among these reasons.
A death certificate may be required by government officials during an investigation to determine whether foul play has been committed.
Public health officials compile data on different statistics, including the leading causes of death, based on death certificates. Public health policies heavily rely on mortality statistics because they provide the only source of information regarding death causes and illnesses before death.
To validate the cause of death and the identity of the deceased, a physician’s or coroner’s signature is usually necessary before a certified death certificate can be issued. After signing the death certificate, local authorities usually issue a certificate of disposition of remains, or a cremation or burial permit.
Are Death Records Public in South Africa?
The Department of Home Affairs maintains records of births, marriages, and deaths, but these records are not accessible to the public for research purposes. To access these records, you must submit a written request to the Department of Home Affairs and provide the department with full details of the event.
Do you need a copy of the death certificate? DocAssist can assist you. We are a reputable document agent and only charge for what we do. We aim to provide our clients with as seamless and painless an experience as possible when obtaining legal documents from the DHA. In comparison to the DHA, we process documents much faster, so your documents can be delivered in weeks, not months.
In case you live abroad and require death records from South Africa, it is physically impossible for you to visit the Department of Home Affairs. Please contact Doc Assist if you need help. We only require a few details – the ID number, and details surrounding the death – and we’ll handle the rest. In addition, we offer apostille and legalization services. Once your document is ready, we will send it to you via DHL. Get in touch today!