Minister Roban On Obtaining A Death Certificate
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday [June 16], Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban spoke about the steps required to obtain a death certificate.
The Minister said, “Compound the loss of a loved one with the unfortunate delay in the issuance of a death certificate to the deceased’s family members, only prolongs their grief as they are not able to settle the affairs of the deceased. We appreciate a perceived delay in producing these documents can interfere with closure for a family or loved one but also the completion of such things as estate planning or probate. This is important business that families may be dependent on being properly settled. These are things that the Registrar understands and always takes into consideration with whatever work he does in this area.
“The Registry General Department understands the sensitivity where the death of a person or loved one has occurred and processes these applications as a matter of urgency. The department has internal performance measures, and applications for a death certificate are processed within 10 working days from the receipt of the Form E. The death certificate is produced and the applicant [i.e., funeral home] is contacted immediately to advise that the death certificate is ready for collection.
“However, Mr. Speaker, when the Coroner’s Office or the Magistrate Court are reviewing a particular death, the Registry General Department cannot process or issue a death certificate until they receive the Form E death notice from either the Coroner’s Office or Magistrate Court.
“These reviews or inquests on the body of a decease person by the Coroner’ Office can take months and sometimes over a year to conclude, which delays the Registry General Department from registering the death and issuing a death certificate.
“Also, delays in producing a death certificate can occur when the Form E submitted by funeral homes contains errors that are detected at the verification stage of processing, and the Registry General Department has to send the Form E back to the funeral home to be corrected. It should be emphasised that the certificate must include the full legal name of the deceased.
“You will note, Mr. Speaker, that often you will see obituaries which may contain the name of the person that he or she is known by and often includes their nickname. However the name may not be the full legal name of the deceased. Often this occurs with funeral homes because they have not been provided with the full legal name. If the full legal name is not on the Form E, the death certificate cannot be produced and can often result in a delay.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the steps required to obtain a death certificate.
I begin by acknowledging the fact that the loss of a life is never easy to accept. The Bermuda population is not immune to death, and as a small jurisdiction we experience our share of deaths, not just the deaths of local residents, but also the deaths of visitors to the island.
Each year the Registry General records the number of deaths that occurred in Bermuda for that calendar year. For example, the year ending 31st December 2021, there were a total of 730 deaths recorded. This figure consists of 727 deaths for residents and 3 deaths for non-residents.
While we often hear the comment that “death is a natural part of life,” Bermudians, like most members of modern society, struggle with the loss of a loved one, and for some it is only their faith that sustains them through their moments of grief.
Compound the loss of a loved one with the unfortunate delay in the issuance of a death certificate to the deceased’s family members, only prolongs their grief as they are not able to settle the affairs of the deceased. We appreciate a perceived delay in producing these documents can interfere with closure for a family or loved one but also the completion of such things as estate planning or probate. This is important business that families may be dependent on being properly settled. These are things that the Registrar understands and always takes into consideration with whatever work he does in this area.
Mr. Speaker, a death certificate can only be obtained from the Registry General Department. The registration of a death and the issuance of a death certificate is a statutory requirement which the department is governed by the provisions of the Registration [Births and Deaths] Act 1949 [the “Act”] in providing this service.
Pursuant to section 11 of the Act, the Registrar General must first be notified that a person has died in Bermuda. The Registrar General is notified of a death by either a medical practitioner, hospital, funeral home, or by the Coroner’s Office or the Magistrate where an inquest is held on the body of the deceased person.
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the notification of a death is via an application to the Registrar General on the prescribed Form E, known as the particulars of death. The application is submitted with the payment of the relevant prescribed fee of thirty-five dollars [$35.00].
Mr. Speaker, the Registry General Department understands the sensitivity where the death of a person or loved one has occurred and processes these applications as a matter of urgency. The department has internal performance measures, and applications for a death certificate are processed within 10 working days from the receipt of the Form E. The death certificate is produced and the applicant [i.e., funeral home] is contacted immediately to advise that the death certificate is ready for collection.
However, Mr. Speaker, when the Coroner’s Office or the Magistrate Court are reviewing a particular death, the Registry General Department cannot process or issue a death certificate until they receive the Form E death notice from either the Coroner’s Office or Magistrate Court.
These reviews or inquests on the body of a decease person by the Coroner’ Office can take months and sometimes over a year to conclude, which delays the Registry General Department from registering the death and issuing a death certificate.
Also, delays in producing a death certificate can occur when the Form E submitted by funeral homes contains errors that are detected at the verification stage of processing, and the Registry General Department has to send the Form E back to the funeral home to be corrected. It should be emphasised that the certificate must include the full legal name of the deceased.
You will note, Mr. Speaker, that often you will see obituaries which may contain the name of the person that he or she is known by and often includes their nickname. However the name may not be the full legal name of the deceased. Often this occurs with funeral homes because they have not been provided with the full legal name. If the full legal name is not on the Form E, the death certificate cannot be produced and can often result in a delay.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, the process for obtaining a death certificate is straightforward and guided by the Registration [Births and Deaths] Act 1949. The Registrar General has to first be notified via Form E that a death has occurred in Bermuda. Once notified, the death is registered, and a death certificate is issued. Only when the Form E is incorrect, or a death is under review, an inquest is held by the Coroner’s Office, or the Magistrate Court, is there a delay in issuing a death certificate.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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