When a death occurs:

The physician or coroner:

• Completes the Medical Certificate of Death with respect to the deceased.
• Forwards the Medical Certificate of Death to the funeral director who has taken charge of the body of the deceased for disposition.

The funeral director:

• Completes the Registration of Death with the assistance of:
  • The nearest relative of the deceased present at the death or in attendance at the last illness of the deceased
  • A relative of the deceased residing or being within the registration area if there is no relative available as mentioned above
  • a person 18 years of age or more, present at the death if no relative is available
  • the occupier of the house in which the death occurred
  • the coroner who has been notified of the death and has made an inquiry or held an inquest regarding the death
• Delivers the Registration of Death and Medical Certificate of Death to a division registrar (municipal clerk) for registration.

The division registrar:

• Registers the death by signing and dating the record.
• Issues a burial permit to the funeral director.
• Forwards the Registration of Death and Medical Certificate of Death to Vital Statistics.

Vital Statistics:

• Checks and verifies the information; any missing or incorrect information is followed up with the appropriate parties (ie. funeral director, informant, physician, coroner).
• Permanently files the Registration of Death and Medical Certificate of Death.