How do I get a death certificate?Application <strong>for</strong> a death certificate may be made at your nearest Service Tasmania Shop or via the Internet.Details of the shop closest to you can be provided by calling 1300 13 55 13 or athttp://www.justice.tas.gov.au/bdm/deaths. There will be a fee involved. The Coroner’s Office may be ableto ass<strong>is</strong>t if there <strong>is</strong> a problem obtaining a certificate. Sometimes the certificate <strong>is</strong> provided by the funeraldirector or a lawyer.What <strong>is</strong> the difference between an inquiry and an inquest?An inquest <strong>is</strong> a court hearing conducted by the Coroner. The Coroner can summons people to be witnessesor to bring papers and other evidence. Witnesses may be called and questioned on oath, or the Coronermay receive documentary evidence. The Coroner must hold an inquest if the coroner suspects homicide, ifthe person was held in care or custody, if identity unknown, if the death was work related, or if the Attorney-General or Chief Mag<strong>is</strong>trate directs it. Only a small percentage of deaths reported to the Coroner proceed toinquest proceedings.If the Coroner decides that an inquest <strong>is</strong> not required into the death they will conduct an inquiry. Th<strong>is</strong>involves reviewing all the papers submitted, ie police, witness, medical reports, etc and making a finding. It<strong>is</strong> not necessary <strong>for</strong> the Coroner to hold an inquest to make recommendations as these may be containedwithin their findings.Legal ass<strong>is</strong>tanceIf you consider you need legal advice or legal representation you can contact the Law Society of Tasmania(6234 4133 or 1800 001 180) <strong>for</strong> referral to a solicitor. You can also contact the Legal Aid Comm<strong>is</strong>sion (62300900) or if you are Aboriginal, Aboriginal Legal Aid (6234 3955).The deceased’s possessionsIf footwear or clothing are soiled, damaged or wet they will be d<strong>is</strong>posed of immediately. A phone call to theCoroner’s Office or the Police Property Officer will explain what has happened to th<strong>is</strong> clothing and whetherother property may be collected or not.D<strong>is</strong>tributing the estateWhen a person dies leaving a will, certain procedures must be followed be<strong>for</strong>e the estate can be d<strong>is</strong>tributed.In most cases, the executor will need to apply <strong>for</strong> a grant of probate from the Probate Div<strong>is</strong>ion of theSupreme Court. Probate <strong>is</strong> the authority given by the Court to the executor to deal with the assets andliabilities of the estate. The grant of probate <strong>is</strong> usually a <strong>for</strong>mality but cannot be <strong>is</strong>sued until 7 days after thedeath of the testator.To obtain a grant of probate, the executor will need to file a number of documents with the Court. If thedocuments are in order, the grant of probate will usually take between 7-10 days to be <strong>is</strong>sued.Where a person dies without having a valid will (ie. dying interstate), the next of kin will need to apply to theCourt <strong>for</strong> Letters of Admin<strong>is</strong>tration. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> an order of the Court that allows the estate to be admin<strong>is</strong>tered. Inthese circumstances the Court will usually appoint the next of kin who applied as admin<strong>is</strong>trator to d<strong>is</strong>tributethe estate. Next of kin who w<strong>is</strong>h to apply <strong>for</strong> Letters of Admin<strong>is</strong>tration must go through similar steps as thoserequired <strong>for</strong> obtaining a grant of probate.It <strong>is</strong> the executor’s job to collect the assets of the deceased and d<strong>is</strong>tribute them to the beneficiaries. Howth<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> done depends on the will and the nature of the estate. A beneficiary does not own the property untilthe executor d<strong>is</strong>tributes the estate. An executor has 12 months from the death to d<strong>is</strong>tribute an estate.Financial ass<strong>is</strong>tanceDepending on your circumstances and your relationship to the person who died, you may be eligibleto receive Government financial ass<strong>is</strong>tance. Payments include Bereavement Allowance, Pension BonusBereavement Payment, Widow Allowance, Parenting Payment, Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance.Contact Centrelink on 13 2850 to find out if you are eligible. You can obtain from Centrelink the documentNeeding help after someone has died? which outlines the ass<strong>is</strong>tance available, or download it fromwww.centrelink.gov.au.6
Useful contact numbersSouthern Coroner’s Office.....................................................6233 3257 or 6233 6202Mobile.........................................................0409 212 320Northern Coroner’s Office......................................................6336 2808Mobile.........................................................0409 028 846Hospitals:Royal Hobart Hospital................................6222 8308Launceston General Hospital.....................6348 7111North West Regional Hospital ....................6430 6666Mersey Hospital .........................................6426 5111The Law Society of Tasmania................................................ 6234 4133Centrelink................................................................................. 13 28 50Legal Advice and Referral Service....................................... 1300 336 611Women’s Legal Service Tasmania........................................ 1800 682 468Aboriginal Health Service...................................................... 6234 3955Victims of Crime...................................................................... 1300 300 238Mental Health Services Helpline........................................... 1800 332 388Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre................................................. 6234 07007
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