How and where to restore a relative’s death certificate

The certificate received after the death of a person is the only evidence of his passing, as well as an important document in resolving many issues:

when burying the deceased;
when receiving an inheritance;
in controversial situations regarding the termination of rights to the property of the deceased and their emergence among family members;
if there is a need to receive a pension, salary, benefit or other payment that was not received by a person due to death.

The death certificate must be kept and passed on to descendants for safekeeping, since it may be needed many years after the person passes away. For example, long-standing debts may “resurface”, the existence of which the family did not suspect and therefore an application to stop collecting the debt was not submitted. In such cases, the bank has the right to transfer the non-repayable loan to a collection agency or other debt collection organization. Their ways of communicating with debtors are very different from banking etiquette, so relatives have to provide a death document as quickly as possible and the case will be closed. But, if the certificate is lost as direct evidence of the death of the debtor, serious problems may arise. In this case, you will have to start processing a duplicate, and this process has its own subtleties that you should know about in advance.

Registration and collection

necessary documents

Stamp certificate

about death

Medical certificate

about death

Where can I get a death certificate and why is it needed?

So, the first document that is issued to relatives after the death of a citizen is a death certificate.
Subsequently, it is the basis for issuing a death certificate. Without it you can't get the last one. It is issued by a medical institution and records the date, time and cause of death. Naturally, like any document, there is a form on which you fill out. In accordance with the law, the certificate must be in Form 33.

Medical workers must certify the death, after which the body of the deceased is taken to the morgue, where the cause of death is determined. A certificate and medical report are issued within 24 hours.

Is it possible to get a duplicate certificate at the morgue?

The certificate is issued at the morgue free of charge, but if you apply for a second certificate, a fee will be charged. The state duty is 200 rubles.

The morgue also has the right to issue a repeat paper based on the data that is in their archive.

What documents are needed to restore a person’s death certificate?

It is important to note that the duplicate has equal legal force to the lost document and will be equal to the original. Therefore, the procedure for obtaining a second certificate is similar to obtaining the first one.

First, you need to follow a completely standard procedure - collect a package of documents. Here is their list:

A document that can confirm the identity of the applicant. As a rule, this is a passport.
Receipt for payment of state duty.
Documents confirming the fact of relationship between the deceased and the applicant. These include birth certificates for children and parents, marriage certificates for spouses. For example, if a grandmother/great-grandmother or grandfather/great-grandfather dies, then the grandson/great-grandson must provide a chain of documents confirming the relationship. The birth certificate of a grandson/great-grandson and the birth certificate of his father (mother) are suitable for this.
If the application for a duplicate is filled out not by a relative, but by his representative, then a power of attorney. It must be issued by a notary.

Of course, these documents are attached to the application. The specified papers must be provided all at once, otherwise the application will be refused.

An important point: copies of documents are attached, but the originals must be presented.

In addition to the receipt for payment of the state fee, it must always be given in the original.

Required documents

To duplicate a posthumous document, you must be guided by Federal Law No. 194. According to it, the necessary list of official papers is determined:

passport of the person responsible (it is important that the series and number are clearly visible);
official papers, certificates that will help confirm the degree of relationship between the applicant and the deceased;
original receipt of payment of state duty.

Additionally you may need:

power of attorney, if the responsible person is represented by someone else from the environment;
papers that can confirm changes in the basic data of the deceased;
a document used to show availability, if necessary, to represent an adult, a disabled person.

Application form

To understand how to obtain a duplicate of a relative’s death certificate, you need to review Order No. 201 of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation of 2021. In the authorities where people come to receive a copy of the certificate of a posthumous document, they usually offer an example of filling out the form, which makes the procedure easier.

Application Options

The most important issue is to learn the procedure to recover lost data. At the selection stage, institutions take into account:

Name of services/organizations	Features of the procedure
Name of services/organizations	Features of the procedure
Public services	All actions are carried out online, only the issuance of a certificate is possible during a personal visit
Russian Post	Documents are sent by registered mail with notification
MFC	The official paper is delayed because it takes time to send the package of documentation provided by the applicant from another city or region to the MFC
MARRIAGE REGISTRY	The processing time for paperwork is short - the document is issued immediately

Features of the registration procedure in different cases:

Government services: official papers are sent online, for which you need to select the appropriate page on the portal, here you are also asked to pay the state fee;
Russian Post: when a package of documents is prepared, they are drawn up as an appendix to the application, in addition, an inventory of the attachments is made, which is attached to the application;
MFC: in order to issue a document, you need to contact the place where the application for restoration of the certificate was submitted, at the MFC you need to get an electronic coupon, go to the operator, submit an application and documentation, after which a receipt for registration is issued;
Civil Registry Office: the method is the most preferable, because the necessary papers are received very quickly, the registration procedure is standard, and if such a need arises, a representative with a power of attorney can apply for posthumous papers.

Application for reissue, sample form 30

A sample of filling out an application in Form No. 30 (⇐ link to the form) will be provided to the person wishing to receive a repeated document. You just need to fill out all the lines and enter all the required information.

The upper left corner of the sheet is not filled in, as it is for the authority receiving the application. It indicates the method of submitting the application and the date when it was accepted for consideration and by whom it was accepted and registered.

In the upper right corner of the form the name of the organization to which the application will be addressed, as well as the personal data of the applicant, is indicated. Fill in the field with your full name, address of residence, passport details and contact phone number.

Next, you need to check the box next to the document you need. The choice will be between a repeated death certificate and a certificate of this unfortunate event.

Be sure to write down the details of the deceased person: last name, first name, patronymic, date and place of death. Some data is filled in if available. For example, the date of entry into the civil register and its number are not always known to the applicant. They are most likely known in the case where a copy of the lost certificate is preserved.

You need to write down the reason why you needed to get a new paper. Be sure to fill out the “Please send the document” column. You can obtain a copy of the death certificate in the registry office department that is convenient for you.

The date is set, sealed with a personal signature and you can submit.

Important note: when applying to the registry office, you will need a different form, we write about it below.

Reasons for refusal

You have been refused. What is this connected with? How to restore the death certificate of a deceased relative in this case? First, let's look at the reasons for refusal.

You can be denied in three cases:

You have not confirmed your interest in obtaining a certificate or your family ties. For example, the fact that you were a classmate of the deceased is not a good enough reason to issue this important document.
You have not provided the entire list of required papers. For example, they forgot to include a marriage certificate, which confirms your relationship with the deceased.
There is no information about the deceased in the registry office and there is no way to find it.

The refusal in writing must be handed to you personally against signature, or sent by registered mail if you did not come to the registry office.

How to get a second death certificate if you were denied for one of these reasons? First, try collecting the missing documents and try your luck with them again. By the way, do not forget that in this case the state duty will have to be paid again.

Another option is to resolve the issue through the court, providing all the evidence that you need the certificate. If the decision is positive, the registry office staff will be required to issue you a paper. If negative, there will be practically no chance left.

How and where to restore the death certificate of a relative if lost

For a second certificate, you should contact the civil registry office that issued the predecessor. This is due to the fact that it is in his archive that the duplicate is stored.

There are several ways to apply:

through the State Services portal;
through the MFC;
through the registry office;
send by mail.

Especially in 2021, when coronavirus restrictions are in effect throughout the country, online methods have come to the fore. Many organizations are forced to cancel in-person meetings and are encouraged to use the Internet to minimize contact with each other.

Obtaining a duplicate through government services

You can use this service directly through the website of the unified government services portal. It contains instructions on what to do.

But in order to use it, you need to be registered on the site and your identity needs to be verified. Then you can sign the application, and the signature will be equivalent to a written one. The system itself will tell you which lines to fill out and even offer answer options.

It is possible to submit an electronic application on some regional portals.

We receive a death certificate through the MFC

It was much more accessible to contact a multifunctional center; there are a lot of them in every locality. To do this, a person must come to the MFC office, take a coupon and wait to be invited or sign up in advance and come at the appointed time. You can make an appointment by calling the hotline or through the website.

There you will also be given a piece of paper with details for paying the fee. It can be redeemed at the center terminal.

A center specialist will help you fill out the application and check the order of the documents. He will make copies of some of them himself. Based on the result, a receipt will be issued indicating that the application has been accepted for consideration. It will also indicate the date when the citizen will have to come up to receive it.

Obtaining a duplicate through the registry office

Thus, residents of the city of Moscow can obtain a second certificate on the website of the Civil Registry Office. Of course, the condition is feasible if the lost document was registered in Moscow. It is very convenient that you can pay the duty there.

You will still have to come to the registry office to obtain a duplicate. You need to pick it up at the branch that was indicated in the application for collection.

Sample application for a duplicate at the registry office (form 23)

Applications in .doc format can be found here. ⇐

Step-by-step instructions - how to obtain a duplicate of a death certificate at the registry office, in person, procedure for restoration

When choosing a method for obtaining a second copy through the registry office, it is better to adhere to a certain algorithm:

Step 1. Decide, find or find out where the predecessor was obtained.

Step 2. Collecting the necessary documents according to the list.

Step 3. Payment of state duty.

Step 4. So, all the documents have been collected, the state duty has been paid, you can go to restore the certificate. It is better to check the appointment schedule in advance so as not to fall on a day off, since such organizations do not have reception days in the middle of the week. Filling out the application and submitting it directly. It can be downloaded from the website, filled out and printed, or filled out at the registry office.

Step 5. Obtaining a duplicate. This is the final stage.

The procedure for obtaining through the State Services portal

Algorithm of actions:

Availability of a personal account. To submit an application online, you need to register on the website –gosuslugi.ru. Additionally, verification (identity confirmation) will be required.
Option 1. From the main page, go to the section “Life situations” - “Your documents are lost” - “Death certificate”.
Option 2. You can also go to the section “Family and Children Category” - “State registration of death” - “Obtaining a repeat certificate”.
Filling out an electronic application.
Attaching scanned documents.
Payment of state duty.
Select a convenient district registry office to get the result.
Submitting an application.
Obtaining a duplicate from the regional registry office.

Copy or duplicate - is there a difference?

There is a difference between a copy and a duplicate, and it is very big.

A copy is a copy of a document made on plain paper or in a scanned version, reproducing the information contained on the original. This can be called, for example, a photocopy.

A duplicate is a second copy of the original.

Since the information contained in the medical certificate is classified by the federal law “On the Fundamentals of the Protection of Citizens in the Russian Federation” as medical confidentiality and is personal data, they are not subject to disclosure (Article 13). But in accordance with Part 7 of Art. 9 of the Federal Law “On Personal Data”, in the event of the death of a person, consent to the processing of personal data can be given by the heirs, or the person himself may have signed such consent before dying.

An example is the following situation: the ex-husband has died, a child was born in the marriage, and in order to enter into inheritance rights, you need to obtain a duplicate of a medical certificate. The primary document was received by law enforcement agencies. The child’s mother is no longer a relative of the deceased, but she can act in the interests of her minor child as his legal representative and receive this paper.

Without a medical certificate, you cannot bury a body or receive a funeral benefit.

Since the payment of financial compensation benefits is required by law, it must be justified by the Pension Fund.

In what situations is a duplicate of a relative’s death certificate required?

Federal Law No. 143 “On Civil Status Acts” established cases when a duplicate may be needed:

loss (burned out in a fire, lost);
damage (torn, wet and unreadable);
dilapidation of the form;
text or print cannot be read;
was laminated.

In the listed options, the certificate cannot be considered valid and a duplicate must be ordered. However, the list is not exhaustive; it can be expanded and considered individually in each case.

Obtaining a certificate abroad

Russian citizens living abroad on a permanent basis request duplicate certificates from the consular offices of the Russian Federation. The procedure is regulated by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs No. 3507 of March 13, 2018. The recipient personally brings to the diplomatic mission an application, his national or foreign passport, and a document confirming his relationship with the deceased.

Consulates of our country abroad register acts of civil status and also store 2 copies of records in their archives. After 1.5 years, they are sent: the first - to the Central Civil Registry Office of Moscow, the second - to the Central Civil Registry Office for the Moscow Region.

You can receive a duplicate directly from a diplomatic mission abroad if a copy of the record has not yet been sent to Russia.

After this, you need to contact the Consular Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow to restore the certificate.

How to request a death certificate from another city

There are cases when a repeated document is required by a person living in a city other than where the death of a loved one was registered. Of course, you can buy a train or plane ticket and come in person to receive a duplicate, or get a visa and fly from another country.

However, there are much simpler and more convenient ways:

First. Contact any branch of the MFC in your city, its specialists themselves will request information in another city.

Second. Send your request by registered mail. Next, you need to go to the civil registry office at the place of registration at the appointed time and day and receive the document.

Third. Issue a notarized power of attorney to a person who is located in the city where the death was registered.

Who can get a duplicate

A limited number of people can request the restoration of a document. It is clearly stated by law:

The citizen to whom the first document was issued.
If the above-mentioned person has died, then a living relative of the deceased can do this.
For a minor child, if his mother and father have died, another adult relative who is the legal guardian has the right to apply.
Guardians and trustees for minors, if a parent is deprived of parental rights, and for incapacitated citizens. Sometimes a social worker acts by proxy for an old grandmother who has no other relatives.
Police representatives when a crime is being investigated.
Distant relatives who have the right to inherit property under a will.
Other interested parties who can prove the need for official confirmation of the citizen’s death.

Who should I contact?

The certificate is a legally significant document.
It contains important information regarding the deceased. It has legal force and can be used to prove the existence of certain rights. In this regard, only limited categories of citizens can receive the document. The list includes:

Persons who are related to the deceased.
Third-party citizens who have a power of attorney from one of the relatives (notarized).
Other citizens interested in obtaining a certificate.

In the latter case, the person must have official documents that confirm the reason for the application.

Relatives also need to prepare certain documentation. First of all, you will need documents that can confirm the presence of a family connection between the deceased and the person who applied. Without them, you will not be able to receive the document.

What should I do if I don’t know where the document was issued?

In order to find out which registry office contains a record of a person’s death, you need to contact any of its departments. There you will have to write a statement asking to establish the place where the death was registered.

The authorities will then conduct an inspection. The applicant will be sent an official response with data on the primary certificate and a detailed description of further actions.

Here's some professional advice in video format:

Deadlines

The receipt period depends on the method of applying for the document.

If you contact the registry office, you can receive it on the day of application. The service is provided quickly, subject to the following conditions:

a relative or interested person came with a full package of papers;
to the department where the civil registration was made;
the second copy is stored in archival documents.

If the original copy was received a long time ago, then it may not be in the registry office database.

After the expiration of the storage period, the documents are sent to the city archives for storage.

Since you will have to contact the executive authority for further search, the period will be different and may increase to one month.

The MFC reviews the application and prepares a second copy within 15 days. Of course, the deadline will be met if the documents are in order.

When? If a citizen decides to use Russian post, he will have to wait longer. The review period will be no more than 30 days from the date of registration of the application.

Cost of restoring a death certificate in 2021

Issuance of the original certificate is free of charge. But for a repeat application you will have to pay a state fee of 350 rubles (or 245 rubles when paying through State Services at a discount).

If you send documents by mail, the costs will increase. This is due to the fact that copies must be certified by a notary, otherwise they will not be accepted. You will also have to incur costs for mailing the letter.

State duty for duplicate

According to Art. 333.26 of the Tax Code, the state duty for issuing a duplicate certificate will be 350 rubles. But there is an opportunity to get a 30% discount; to do this you need to register on the State Services website. You must submit an application for the service you are interested in and wait until the department issues an invoice for payment and then use the details to pay for it using a bank card.

Thus, if you pay the fee through the State Services portal, its cost will be 245 rubles.

How and where to pay

Payment details can be obtained on the official government services portal. There, the payment will be generated automatically; you just need to fill in the details of your account or bank card. Simply transfer funds to your Sberbank account.

If you apply through the MFC, employees will provide the details for which you need to deposit money. There is usually a terminal in the hall with which you can make a payment.

Before sending a request by mail, you need to contact a bank branch, having first obtained the details from the registry office, and transfer money to pay off the state duty.

There is nothing complicated, the main thing is to fill out all the numbers and other data correctly. If a mistake is made, the money will go in a different direction and, as a result, the service will be refused.

Grounds for refusal to issue a document

There are few reasons for refusal, but they exist. Their list is closed and cannot be at the discretion of the authorities:

all necessary documents have not been provided;
the state duty has not been paid;
the person who represents the interests of the principal does not have a notarized power of attorney, if the application is not submitted in person;
the papers were submitted to the wrong authority, the death was registered in another.

It is mandatory to have a passport with you, since without it you cannot confirm your identity and documents will not be accepted.

You can re-apply with the same request, but having eliminated the reason for the refusal.

What if you can't contact me in person?

It happens that you do not have the opportunity to come to the registry office in person, for example, you are being treated in a health care facility, but the document is needed very urgently.

In the modern world, this is not a problem, since your interests can be represented by any person over 18 years of age and a citizen of Russia whom you trust.
To do this, you need to issue a power of attorney .
A power of attorney will only have legal force if it is properly executed. This document must be certified by a notary .

Now notary companies provide on-site services, so if necessary, get their services anywhere.

How much does it cost to have a copy of a death certificate certified by a notary?

So, when performing actions that have legal consequences, you need to provide copies of documents. Sometimes it is not enough to make an ordinary copy; you need a notarized one, which will be stored in the case materials. For example, when entering into an inheritance, registering a marriage or divorce, registering transactions with property, and others.

To do this, you should contact a notary office. After the notary has put his stamp and signature on it, it will be equated to the original upon mandatory presentation.

The price of notary services depends on the state tariff for performing a specific notarial act. An amount for the provision of legal services is added to the tariff; it may differ in each region.

So, in St. Petersburg, notarization of a copy of a death certificate costs 300 rubles, while in Moscow it can be even cheaper.

Why might you need a copy?

The death certificate has legal force. It reflects the causes of death, date of death, place and, accordingly, personal data of the deceased, including his full name (full name), place of birth and last registration.

There are a number of situations in which you may need a document confirming the death of a relative:

Receiving benefits from social security authorities for funerals (funeral benefits);
Registration of benefits and benefits for the loss of a breadwinner;
Registration of payments due for the birth of a child who lived more than 10 days, including maternity capital;
Entry into inheritance and its registration;
Closing bank accounts or withdrawing funds from them, including manipulation of loans;
Purchase or sale of real estate (apartment, dacha, car) that belonged to the deceased;
Re-registration of property documents if the deceased owned a share;
Re-registration of the payer for housing and communal services (payments for gas, electricity, water, heat);
Extract from or registration in the living space of the deceased, etc.

An original certificate is obtained with a certificate from the morgue.

Like most documents, a death certificate can be restored. But unlike the initial free issuance, you will have to fork out more. The duplicate is equivalent to the original and differs from it only by the additional inscription “repeat/repeat”.