The death certificate is an official document issued by the Civil Registry that certifies a person's death, the date, place, and other essential details. To obtain it without administrative complications, it is recommended to use the services of a specialised agency, which manages the process efficiently and remotely.

Prerequisites

• Deceased person's details: Full name, exact date of death, municipality and province where the death occurred, as well as registry references if known (from the family book or previous certificates).
• Applicant's identification: DNI, NIE, or passport, as applicable.
• Delivery address: For receiving the certificate by registered post.
• Authorisation: You must provide a signature on the form to authorise remote processing.
• Additional details: If registry data such as volume or folio are available, it facilitates the process. No electronic signature or software installation is required.

If the certificate is for international use, consider the option of a Hague apostille, available through the same agency for countries adhering to the convention.

Steps to request the certificate

1. Access the agency portal: Ingrese al sitio web dedicado para iniciar el trámite en línea, disponible las 24 horas sin requerir desplazamientos -> https://www.registrocivil.es/en/application-for-certificate-of-death/
2. Complete the digital form: Enter all required details of the death and the applicant. Verify the information to avoid delays. Include your signature in the designated space to authorise the processing.
3. Select additional options: If you need extra copies, an apostille, last will and testament, death insurance, or maximum priority, tick the corresponding boxes during the process.
4. Make a secure payment: Pay the processing fees and any chosen supplements. Payment is made transparently and securely.
5. Confirm and await delivery: Once processed, the agency will process the request with the Civil Registry and send the certificate to your address by registered post. You will receive email updates, including a tracking code to monitor the shipment.

Costs vary depending on the selected options, but include a professional processing base fee:

• Base fee: €55.00 (VAT included), which covers processing by a registered agent.
• Additional copies: €5 for the second copy, €10 for the third.
• Hague Apostille: €25, if required for international use.
• Processing and issuance of the last will and testament certificate: €25.
• Processing and issuance of the death insurance contracts certificate: €25.
• Maximum priority: €35, to expedite the process.
• Shipping: Calculated in the final step, depending on the destination (national or international).

The total is shown before confirming payment, ensuring transparency. There are no hidden costs, and the service is managed by a private entity independent of the Ministry of Justice.

Other ways to obtain the certificate

If you prefer to manage the process personally without using a private agency, the Spanish Ministry of Justice allows you to obtain the death certificate free of charge through its official channels. This document is essential for processing inheritances, widow's pensions, life insurance, or cancelling utility services.

1. Online application (electronic headquarters)

This is the quickest method and is done through the official portal of the Ministry of Justice's Electronic Headquarters.

• With digital identification: If you have a digital certificate, electronic DNI, or the Cl@ve system, you can download the death certificate in PDF format immediately, provided the death is registered in a digitised civil registry.
• Without digital identification: You can complete an online form with the deceased person's details (name, surnames, date, and place of death). The corresponding civil registry will process the request and send the document by ordinary postal mail to the address you provide, with a delivery time of ten to fifteen days.

2. In-person application

You can go directly to the civil registry, justice of the peace court, or town hall where the death was registered.

• Prior appointment: In most provincial capitals and main registries, it is mandatory to request a prior appointment through the official website of the autonomous community or the Ministry of Justice.
• Procedure: You must present your DNI and provide the deceased person's details. It is very helpful to provide the family book or know the volume and folio of the registration to speed up the location of the record in the physical archives.

3. Application by postal mail

It consists of sending a letter addressed to the civil registry where the death is recorded. The submission must include:

• A signed letter with your contact details and delivery address.
• The deceased person's details: full name, date, and place of death.
• The type of certificate requested (usually the literal one for legal procedures).
• A photocopy of your identity document (DNI or passport).

4. Marriages abroad (Consulates)

If the death occurred outside Spain and was registered at a Spanish consulate, the application must be addressed to that consular office or, failing that, to the Central Civil Registry in Madrid.

Frequently asked questions

• Who can request a death certificate?
  Anyone can request a death certificate for registrations recorded in Civil Registries, Justice of the Peace Courts, Town Halls, or Spanish Consulates in Spain or abroad, from 1870 onwards. No kinship restrictions are specified, provided the necessary data is supplied (e.g., from the family book or previous certificates). The applicant must identify themselves properly and authorise the process with their signature.
• How long does the process take?
  The process usually completes within a few working days, depending on the Civil Registry involved. With the maximum priority option, processing is expedited. Death insurance data is available for 5 years from the date of death.
• What if I do not know all the details?
  The agency offers personalised assistance to resolve queries. Contact us via the portal for guidance before completing the form; registry data helps, but a professional agent will assist directly.
• Is the certificate valid for international procedures?
  Yes, but for countries adhering to the Hague Convention, it is recommended to add the apostille, available as an additional option in the application.
• Are there refunds if there are errors?
  The agency guarantees a professional service; in case of issues, contact us for corrections without unnecessary extra costs.