Death Registration

​Death registrations are a permanent, legal record of death of an individual.

Certificates

Death certificates or certified copies of a death registration are provided for such purposes as:

• settlement of estates
• insurance
• access to or termination of other government services (i.e., health card, pensions, voter's list)
• genealogy searches
• information from death registrations is also used for medical and health research, and for statistical purposes

How to Register a Death

To register a death, a family member or funeral director usually completes the Statement of Death with information about the deceased. At the same time, the physician or coroner attending the death completes the Medical Certificate of Death, which contains the cause of death information. Both forms are mailed independently to the local Division Registrar.

Out-of-Province Scenarios

If the death occurs within Ontario, but the burial or other disposition is to take place outside of Ontario, the body cannot be removed until an Ontario burial permit is obtained.

If the death occurs outside of Ontario, but the burial or other disposition is to take place within Ontario, a burial, transit or removal permit is required from the jurisdiction where the death occurred.

Request Forms

Request Forms for Death Certificates are available at:

• the Chatham Civic Centre
• Municipal Service Centres
• Municipal Information Desks
• any MPP Offices

Fees

• Certificate: Wallet size, basic information, Fee: $15.00 tax included
  
• Long Form: All registered information, including signatures, Fee: $22.00 tax included

Same-Day Service is available at designated provincial public counters for an additional fee of $15 per document. Some restrictions apply.

Payment can be made by cheque or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance. Visa, Mastercard and cash or debit are also accepted if paying at a designated provincial counter.

How to Submit Request Forms

Completed Request Forms and payments can be submitted using:

Fax: 1-807-343-7459 (with credit card payments) - If the request is urgent, call before faxing

Drop-off Submissions

Request forms can also be dropped off at designated provincial counters closest to Chatham-Kent:

Windsor Land Registry Office
250 Windsor Avenue
Windsor, ON N9A 6V9
Phone: 519-971-9980

London Land Registry Office
80 Dundas Street, 1st Floor
London, ON N6A 2P3
Phone: 519-675-7612

For questions contact the Office of the Registrar at 1-800-461-2156 or 416-325-8305.

How to Obtain Records

The Office of the Registrar General holds records for all deaths in Ontario during the past 70 years. To obtain records older than 70 years, call the Vital Statistics Hot Line at 416-327-1593 or contact:

The Archives of Ontario
Attn: Vital Statistics Reference Archivist
77 Greenville Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2R9