How to Get a Death Certificate in British Columbia

After a death, banks, insurers, government offices and pension providers usually want proof that the person has died. For most of them, that proof is a death certificate. If you are an executor or a close relative, you will likely need several.

This article explains what a death certificate is, how it differs from the registration of the death, how to order one in British Columbia, what it costs and how long it takes. Fees and processing times can change, so confirm them before you pay.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

Registration and certificate are not the same thing

The registration of a death is the underlying record. A funeral home typically files it. If there is no funeral home, the death can be registered at a Service BC location or with the Vital Statistics Agency once you have the Medical Certificate of Death from a coroner or physician.

A death certificate is the proof of death that comes from that record. It can be ordered from the funeral home or the Vital Statistics Agency, and some services require a certified copy.

A certified registration copy or extract is a different product from a death certificate. It costs more by mail ($50 compared with $27) and can take longer to produce, as the table below shows, while the courier fee is $60 for both.

Ways to order a death certificate

• Online by credit card through eCOS.
• In person at a Service BC counter using form VSA 430D.
• By mail to Vital Statistics Agency, PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9P3.
• Through the funeral home, which can also supply copies.

If you are not sure who is allowed to place an order in your situation, ask the Vital Statistics Agency or a lawyer before you start, so you do not lose time.

What it costs and how long it takes

These fees are set by regulation and can change, so check the current amount before you pay. If you are in a hurry, plan for the printing time plus delivery rather than assuming same-week delivery.

How many copies should you get?

There is no single right number. Many institutions want to keep a certified copy, and they set their own rules on what they need before they release assets or close accounts. Some ask for a grant of probate and others do not.

Before you order, list every place that may ask for one. Then add a small cushion for items you forgot.

• Banks and credit unions holding the person's accounts.
• Insurance companies and pension or annuity providers.
• Government offices you need to notify, such as Service Canada, which cancels CPP and OAS.
• Brokerages, investment accounts and registered plans.
• The land title office, if real estate is involved.
• Your lawyer, if you are applying for probate.

If you are searching for a will, a photocopy of the death certificate must go with the Application for Search of Wills Notice (VSA 532). Keep that in mind when you count copies.

Older deaths and genealogy copies

If more than 20 years have passed since the death, anyone can apply for a genealogy certified copy of the death registration. The fee is $50 by regular mail, it is printed within 20 business days plus mailing, and you apply with form VSA 013 by mail or at a Service BC counter.

If fewer than 20 years have passed, only certain people can apply. They include a relative with proof of relationship (mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother, spouse, grandparent or grandchild), a medical practitioner, a person authorized by court order, a federal or provincial government officer, or someone who satisfies the registrar general of good faith.

What to do next

• Confirm the death has been registered, usually through the funeral home.
• Make a list of every institution that will want proof of death.
• Ask each one whether it needs a certified copy and whether it will return it.
• Choose your ordering method and allow for printing and mailing time.
• Check the current fee on the official site before paying.
• Keep the certificates together with the will, account lists and other estate papers.

If the estate is complicated, or you are unsure what a particular institution will accept, a lawyer can help you sort out the order of steps.

Frequently asked questions