Don't Overlook the Death Certificate, Here's What It's For!

When a family member passes away, relatives usually arrange a death certificate. This document is needed for various matters concerning the person who has died. Here we explain everything about the death certificate.

What Is a Death Certificate?

Before we discuss its functions, let's first understand what this document is. A death certificate is a document issued by the village office or hospital as proof and recording of a person's death. You should also know that:

• For every death, the head of the neighborhood (RT) is required to report it to the implementing agency within 30 days at the latest.
• In cases where a death is unclear and the body cannot be found, a court decision is awaited.
• Where the identity of the deceased is unclear, the death must be recorded based on a police report.
• The death certificate deed is issued by the Civil Registry Office (Disdukcapil) within 14 days at the latest.

Functions of a Death Certificate

Next, you should understand some of the functions of this death certificate , including:

1. Determining a Person's Status

This document serves as a reference for determining a person's status, namely whether someone is a widow or widower, especially for those who work as civil servants. It also becomes a required attachment when the surviving spouse wishes to remarry in the future.

2. Processing Inheritance

People who have passed away usually leave personal property. This property can later become the rightful possession of their children or other family members. However, to determine this, a death certificate must be attached as a requirement, so that the distribution and handover of the inheritance can proceed.

3. Handling Benefits and Insurance

While a person is alive, they often have financial matters left behind, such as allowances, pensions, insurance, and so on. Family members who wish to claim these funds must include a death certificate, which serves as proof so the claims can be processed.

4. Preventing Data Misuse

The family of the deceased is required to report the death and obtain a death certificate. This way, the personal data of the late person cannot be misused.

Family members also need not worry if someone suddenly acts in the name of the deceased.

5. Keeping Population Data Accurate

When a person passes away, the family's population records will change. These changes can be reflected through the issuance of a death certificate.

In this way, the government, when providing assistance or other services, can view data that is available and, most importantly, valid.

Requirements for Obtaining a Death Certificate

When you want to arrange a death certificate or death record for a family member, you must bring several requirements. These requirements include the following:

1. Requirements for Indonesian Citizens (WNI)

The first requirement for an Indonesian citizen who has passed away is:

• Download the death certificate or death record form with codes F-2.28 and F-2.29 from the local Civil Registry (Dukcapil) website. Alternatively, you can collect the form directly offline. Then fill it out in hard copy
• A death certificate from the local village office
• The original death certificate from the hospital or doctor. The content of this letter may be the results of the hospital's examination
• A photocopy of the birth certificate or birth record
• A photocopy of the Family Card (KK) of the deceased
• Prepare a photocopy of the ID card (KTP) of the reporter and 2 witnesses aged at least 21 years
• A power of attorney if the reporter is someone other than the family

2. Requirements for an Indonesian Citizen (WNI) Who Passes Away Abroad

The requirements for obtaining a death certificate when an Indonesian citizen passes away outside the territory of Indonesia are as follows:

• Photocopy of the Family Card (Kartu Keluarga) and the National Identity Card (KTP) for the Indonesian citizen
• Photocopy of the passport for a foreign national (WNA)
• Letter of Reporting from the Embassy
• Death certificate from the overseas Civil Registry Office (Disdukcapil), already translated into Indonesian by a authorized and registered translator in Indonesia

3. Requirements for Foreign Nationals (WNA)

The final requirements for a foreign national who passes away within the territory of Indonesia are as follows:

• Photocopy of the passport, already legalized
• Death certificate from the hospital
• Death certificate from the village or sub-district office (Desa / Kelurahan)
• Photocopies of the reporting party and 2 witnesses, each at least 21 years old
• Photocopies of the SKTT (Certificate of Residence) and KITAS (Limited Stay Permit), as well as the Family Card (KK) of the foreign national

How to Arrange a Death Certificate

When arranging the making of a death letter or certificate, you can do so offline or online. The steps for arranging a death certificate are outlined below.

1. Offline

The first way to arrange it is offline, as follows:

1. First, report to the village or sub-district office that a family member has passed away. If the death occurred in a hospital, you can request the death certificate directly.
2. Prepare the requirements or documents to bring to the village or sub-district office.
3. Obtain the death certificate from the village or sub-district office.
4. The reporting party visits the local Disdukcapil to obtain forms F-2.28 and F-2.29 and fills them out.
5. Once the forms are complete, the reporting party submits all requirements to the registration desk for checking. You may be asked for a phone number if any documents are missing.
6. The death certificate will be issued within 14 working days at the latest.

2. Online

To make the process of obtaining a death certificate easier and faster, you can apply online, as follows:

1. Open your browser and visit the local Disdukcapil website. There is usually a menu for making a death certificate or letter that you can click directly.
2. After that, you can select the application menu.
3. Prepare all the data and documents, then enter them on the reporting page.
4. Then, tick all the required documents and click save.
5. Once you have confirmed that all the data is correct, upload the required documents.
6. Next, select the service point and the pickup schedule date. Once you have set these, click the schedule request.
7. A message will then appear stating that the pickup schedule request has been sent successfully.
8. Don't forget to download the pickup schedule and the proof of registration.
9. Once the pickup schedule is confirmed, go to your local Disdukcapil office and bring the proof, which is the downloaded copy of the previous request letter.

Already Familiar with the Death Certificate?

Those are some of the explanations you can now understand about this letter, from its meaning to how it is made. This document is certainly very useful and has several functions, as explained above.

So, when a relative of yours passes away, you can report and process it right away. And if you don't know how to handle it, you can read the article above.

However, if you would rather not go to the trouble and simply want to receive everything ready-made, you need not worry. You can use the funeral services for the deceased from Kamboja with trusted funeral protection services. In fact, Kamboja even provides death certificate creation and processing services within its package options.