Death certificate

The death certificate is the official document that certifies a person's death. This document states the deceased's details, as well as the place, date, and time, among other information.

This document is necessary for a large number of procedures such as preparing for burial and funeral, pension procedures, legal matters concerning inheritances, claiming life insurance, banking issues, debt settlements, etc.

If you wish to request a death certificate (also called a death record), you can do so via the following link:

PROCESSING OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE

More information about the death certificate

There are several types of death certificates, although the most common and generally needed is the literal positive certificate. Other types of certificates are also available:

A) Positive Certificate:
- Extract: This is a summary of the information relating to the death recorded in the Civil Registry. It can be of different types:
- Ordinary: This is issued in Castilian Spanish for those autonomous communities whose sole official language is Castilian Spanish.
- International or multilingual: This is intended to take effect in countries that have ratified the Vienna Convention of 8 September 1976. This certificate is issued in the official language of all signatory countries to the said convention (Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia Montenegro).
- Bilingual: Whenever an extract certificate is requested in an Autonomous Community that has its own official language, it will be issued in Castilian Spanish and in the official language of the Autonomous Community where it is issued.
- Literal: This is a literal copy of the death registration, containing all data relating to the identity of the deceased and the fact of death.
B) Negative Certificates: These certify that a person's death is not registered in that Civil Registry.

Who can request/submit it?

It can be requested by any citizen who requires it and has an interest, except for legally stipulated exceptions that prevent disclosure without special authorisation:

Of adoptive, non-marital or unknown filiation or circumstances that reveal such character, of the date of marriage recorded on the birth certificate, if the marriage was subsequent to the birth or had been celebrated within 180 days prior to the birth, and of the change of the surname Expósito or other similar or inconvenient surnames.
Of sex rectification.
Of the grounds for annulment, separation or divorce of a marriage or for the deprivation or suspension of parental authority.
Of archived documents, regarding the points cited in the preceding paragraphs or dishonourable circumstances or those incorporated in a confidential file.
Of the abortion file.

How to request it?

Through our portal, by clicking on the following link:

Professional management request

Or you can carry out the process directly at the corresponding Civil Registry, either in person, by postal mail, or electronically if the respective Civil Registry is computerised. You can find more information on the Ministry of Justice website (www.mjusticia.gob.es)

information

Where can I request the death certificate?

You can request the death certificate at the Civil Registry corresponding to the municipality where the death occurred. Consult the complete list of cities and access detailed information about the death certificate in that municipality.