Death Certificate
Civil registry document recording a person's death. Required for inheritance, pension claims, insurance, and estate proceedings abroad.
What is a Death Certificate?
A death certificate is an official civil-status document recording the death of a person. To apostille it, obtain the certified death record from the competent vital-records/civil registry authority — a medical notification or hospital proof of death is a different document and is not the civil registry certificate normally required. Whether an apostille is needed depends on the destination: qualifying death records issued in one EU country and presented in another are exempt from apostille under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191; for inheritance, estate proceedings, pension claims, life insurance payouts, or survivor benefits in other countries, courts, banks and agencies apply their own rules and may require an apostille (or legalization) and a translation — verify with each recipient.
Common uses internationally
For assets in another country, courts and notaries apply their own rules: qualifying EU-to-EU death records are exempt from apostille (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191); other destinations may require apostille or legalization — verify with the receiving authority before starting.
Pension authorities and insurers abroad set their own submission requirements — some ask for an apostilled (or EU-exempt) death record; check the specific authority's checklist before ordering.
Can this document be apostilled or legalized?
Apostille or legalisation requirements depend on the issuing and receiving countries, the document and the procedure. Covered public documents circulated between EU Member States are exempt from apostille under Regulation 2016/1191; other cases need a destination-specific check.
Death certificates can be apostilled in Hague Convention member countries. The apostille must be placed on a certified copy issued by the civil registry. Qualifying death records issued in one EU country for presentation in another are exempt from apostille under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 — check the receiving authority's rules.
See apostille services →When the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, the same document requires full consular legalization instead of apostille.
See legalization services →Who issues this document?
The competent vital-records/civil registry authority of the jurisdiction where the death was recorded (which public office issues the certified record varies by country and jurisdiction).
Requirements at a glance
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a hospital certificate instead of the civil registry's certified copy.
- Not checking each recipient's submission rules — where an estate involves several jurisdictions, each sets whether it needs its own certified copy and authentication; confirm before ordering copies.
Countries where this document is commonly processed
Relevant services
Frequently asked questions
How many apostilled copies do I need for an inheritance in multiple countries?
There is no universal number — check each recipient's submission rules. Where an estate involves assets in two countries, each authority sets whether it needs its own certified copy (and its own authentication). We obtain all copies simultaneously to minimize delays.
The death occurred abroad. How do I apostille the foreign certificate?
The apostille must be issued in the country where the death certificate was issued — not where the deceased was from. We coordinate with the relevant foreign authority on your behalf.
Reviewed by
Sofía RodríguezApostille Specialist
Expert in educational document certification and background checks for Latin America and Spain.
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