Current legal position
The governing central law is the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, as amended by the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, which came into force on 1 October 2023.
Under the amended Section 12, once registration of a death is completed, the Registrar must give the certificate to the informant as soon as possible and not later than seven days, electronically or otherwise and free of charge in the manner prescribed.
This affidavit is a general specimen and is not a substitute for the form or declaration prescribed by a State, Union Territory, municipal body or Registrar. An affidavit is not automatically required merely because a death has already been registered. Use it only when the competent authority asks for an affidavit or where particular facts need to be sworn.
Sample Affidavit Format for Issue of Death Certificate
Replace the bracketed fields with the correct particulars. Delete any paragraph that does not apply and add the specific purpose for which the certificate is required.
[NAME OF LOCAL AUTHORITY / REGISTRATION UNIT]
AFFIDAVIT FOR ISSUE / OBTAINING CERTIFIED DEATH CERTIFICATE
I, [NAME OF DEPONENT], aged about [AGE] years, son/daughter/wife of [NAME], residing at [FULL ADDRESS], do hereby solemnly affirm and state as follows:
1. That I am the [relationship] of Late [NAME OF DECEASED] and I am competent to swear this affidavit.
2. That Late [NAME OF DECEASED] died on [DATE OF DEATH] at [PLACE OF DEATH].
3. That the said death has been registered with the Registrar of Births and Deaths, [LOCAL AUTHORITY / REGISTRATION UNIT], under Registration No. [NUMBER, IF AVAILABLE] dated [DATE].
4. That I require the death certificate/certified certificate for [STATE PURPOSE - e.g. succession, bank, pension, insurance, property, service record or other lawful purpose].
5. That the particulars stated above are true to my knowledge and the supporting documents submitted with the application are genuine.
6. I therefore request the competent Registrar to issue / permit me to obtain the death certificate in accordance with the applicable law and rules.
DEPONENT
VERIFICATION
I, [NAME OF DEPONENT], the deponent above named, verify that the contents of paragraphs 1 to 6 are true and correct to my knowledge and belief and that nothing material has been concealed therefrom.
Verified at [PLACE] on [DATE].
DEPONENT
When may an affidavit be required?
For an event that is already validly registered, the statutory certificate flows from the registration entry. A local authority may nevertheless ask for an affidavit, declaration, identity proof, relationship proof or authorisation in a particular case-for example, where the applicant is not the original informant, supporting facts need clarification, an old record must be searched, or local procedural rules require additional documentation.
Applicants should follow the current checklist displayed by the Registrar or municipal portal instead of relying on an old generic list.
Delayed Death Registration: Current Rule
Death reporting is ordinarily required within the prescribed period of 21 days. The legal route changes when the event is reported late.
- Within 21 days: ordinary registration procedure applies, subject to the applicable State/UT rules.
- After 21 days but within 30 days: delayed registration may be allowed on payment of the prescribed late fee.
- After 30 days but within one year: amended Section 13(2) requires written permission of the District Registrar or other prescribed authority, prescribed fee and self-attested document(s) in the prescribed form and manner.
- After one year: amended Section 13(3) requires an order of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate having jurisdiction over the place where the death occurred, along with the prescribed fee.
Key 2023 change: for the 30-days-to-one-year category, the amended central law refers to self-attested documents rather than making a notarised affidavit the statutory prerequisite under Section 13(2). State/UT rules and local procedures should still be checked.
Documents commonly requested
The exact documents vary by place, nature of death, whether the death was institutional or domiciliary, and whether registration is timely or delayed. Depending on the case, the authority may ask for identity details of the informant and deceased, medical documentation, cremation/burial record, proof relating to the place of occurrence, registration/application details, or an order/permission required for delayed registration.
For a death in a medical institution, amended Section 10(2) requires the institution to provide the medical certificate of cause of death, including history of illness if any, to the Registrar and a copy to the nearest relative, free of charge. For a non-institutional death where the deceased was attended during the recent illness by a medical practitioner, Section 10(3) provides for the medical practitioner to issue the prescribed cause-of-death certificate free of charge for delivery to the Registrar.
Official Death Registration & Certificate Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an affidavit compulsory after a death has already been registered?
No. The amended central Act provides for issue of the certificate after completed registration. An affidavit should be submitted when the competent authority specifically requires it or when sworn facts are needed for the application.
How long can the Registrar take to give the certificate after registration?
Section 12, as substituted by the 2023 Amendment Act, says the Registrar shall give the certificate as soon as registration is completed and not later than seven days.
Does a death certificate show the cause of death?
Section 17, as amended, states that a death certificate issued to a person shall not disclose the particulars regarding the cause of death entered in the register.
Where should a Delhi applicant apply?
Use the authority having jurisdiction over the place where the death occurred. For MCD areas, use the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Birth & Death portal. For NDMC jurisdiction, use the New Delhi Municipal Council Birth & Death service.
Can I print this affidavit format?
Yes. The page includes print-friendly styling. Before swearing or filing the affidavit, adapt the wording to the facts and the requirements of the concerned Registrar.
Last updated: 29 August 2026. Laws and local procedures can change; verify the current requirement on the competent authority's official portal before filing.