Registering a Death in New Zealand: Forms and Costs

In New Zealand, every death must be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM), part of the Department of Internal Affairs. If you use a funeral director, they do it for you. If you organise the funeral yourself, or don't hold one, you must register the death within 3 working days of the burial or cremation. Registering is free, and you only pay if you order a death certificate.

Who registers the death?

It depends on how the funeral is arranged.

• With a funeral director: you give them personal information about the person who died, and they submit the registration to BDM.
• Without a funeral director: you register the death yourself. This applies when a family arranges a burial or cremation, or when there is no funeral at all.

Either way, the government says a death needs to be registered within 3 working days of the burial or cremation. Count working days, not calendar days.

How do you register a death yourself?

You need two things.

1. Form BDM 28, "Notification of death for registration". The form is on the govt.nz registering page, and it explains what personal details to supply.
2. A cause of death certificate from a doctor or nurse, or the coroner's authorisation to release the body.

Post the completed documents to BDM. Check the govt.nz page for the current address and any online option before you send them, because services change.

If the coroner is involved, the coroner's authorisation to release the body takes the place of the doctor's certificate.

What does registering cost, and how do you get a death certificate?

Registering is free. The death certificate is a separate purchase. As listed on govt.nz in September 2026:

BDM announced that fees for most of its services rise by about 5.6% from 18 June 2026, so figures in older articles may be out of date. Check the BDM page before you pay.

You can order online, by post using form BDM93D, in person at the Auckland, Manukau, Wellington or Christchurch offices (book an appointment and bring photo ID), or by phone. Most people get the certificate in 1 to 2 weeks. The government advises that you do not order a death certificate until after the funeral has taken place.

Watch for third-party sites that charge extra to "help" you order. Use the official govt.nz pages.

Who needs a death certificate?

You'll usually need one to administer the estate or to apply for a Funeral Grant from Work and Income. Many banks and organisations accept a copy, but it depends on the organisation, so ask each one what it needs before you order extras.

If the person had assets in other countries, ask the institutions there what they require.

Can you get money from the bank for the funeral?

Yes. The government says that money can be released from the deceased's bank account for funeral expenses without waiting for probate. Contact the bank, ask how it does this, and have the funeral director's invoice ready.

If the estate can't pay, a Funeral Grant from Work and Income may help towards reasonable funeral costs. Our guide to the WINZ funeral grant explains who qualifies, and our pages on average funeral costs in NZ and cremation costs in NZ give a sense of what to budget.

Who do you need to notify?

The death certificate is not the end of the paperwork. The government lists the agencies to contact, including Inland Revenue for tax and student loans, Work and Income for benefits and pensions, NZTA to cancel a driver licence, and the Department of Internal Affairs to cancel a passport.

For banks, insurers, utilities and other organisations, myTrove is a free online service for families. You enter the details once and choose which organisations to notify. It says it connects to more than 200 participating organisations and is supported by the Department of Internal Affairs. The government lists banks, insurers, government departments and utilities among those you can notify through it. You can also contact organisations directly if you prefer.

Keep an eye out for any recurring payments or benefit deposits that need to stop. Our after-death timeline gives a rough order for the wider to-do list.

Do you need probate?

Sometimes. The government says that if the estate is worth less than $40,000, you may not need to apply to the High Court. If there is a valid will, the executor applies for probate. If there is no will, a family member usually applies for a letter of administration. The government says applications typically take 6 to 8 weeks, and simple estates can take up to 6 months to handle.

The $40,000 figure is a general guide, not a promise that any institution will release funds. Banks, KiwiSaver providers and other institutions each have their own rules, and some assets, such as property in the person's sole name, may need a formal grant even when the estate is small. A lawyer, trustee company or Community Law centre can tell you what applies to your situation.

What if the person died overseas?

A death overseas is registered in the country where it happened. If the person was a New Zealand citizen or ordinarily lived in New Zealand, you can deposit the overseas death certificate with BDM. The original is required, it must be translated if it's not in English, and the fee is NZ$55. This is not a registration, and it is optional.

If you're with family abroad when someone dies, contact the nearest New Zealand embassy or a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade office. Our guide to embassy help after a death abroad covers what consular staff can and cannot do.

What to do next

1. Ask the funeral director to confirm that they will register the death, or download form BDM 28 if you are arranging things yourself.
2. After the funeral, order the death certificates you need.
3. Notify organisations through myTrove or directly.
4. Find the will, and check whether the estate needs probate.