How to Get a Death Certificate in South Africa

A death certificate is the document nearly everything else depends on. The order matters: the death is reported first, and the certificate follows.

1. The death must be reported. According to the South African government's own guidance, a death must be reported to Home Affairs officers, to members of the South African Police Service (especially where there is no Home Affairs office), or to an appointed funeral undertaker. Your undertaker will usually help with this step. If the person died at home, our guide on what to do first covers who to call.

2. The burial order. No burial may take place unless it is authorised by a burial order. The same designated people who take the report can issue it, and your undertaker will normally explain how it is arranged.

3. Home Affairs issues the death certificate. The Department of Home Affairs issues the certificate once it receives the notification of death. You can apply at a Home Affairs office. If the person died abroad, the death is registered in that country, and a South African embassy, mission or consulate can help.

4. Ask for certified copies. Keep the original safe. You will be asked for a copy by:

- Banks and insurers, including funeral cover and life policies - The Master of the High Court, when you report the estate - Pension and provident funds and employers - Others, such as medical aids and service providers, may also ask

Common mistakes

- Taking money out of the person's bank account before the estate is administered. Banks usually freeze it once they are told. - Posting the only original. Use certified copies. - Forgetting that forms, fees and requirements can change. Confirm with Home Affairs or your undertaker before you go.

Then, the estate. Once you have the certificate, look for a will and read what happens in the first weeks.

For your own family. The families who cope best know where the papers are. MyLegacyLivesOn gives you a checklist for your country and a place to record where everything is kept, including your own documents. Our short video and full guide on this subject are shown below the post.

Start with ten minutes. Take the free 2-minute readiness check to see where your family would be stuck today, or create a free account and begin your list.

General information, not legal advice. This is a planning summary, not a legal document. Bring it to a qualified estate lawyer to formalize.