Government Departments and Legal Documents

Link to Public Trust
When someone passes away and a will hasn’t been left, it’s called dying ‘intestate’ or intestacy. In this situation, the law determines who will inherit their property and possessions. There is a formal process that must be followed to wind up the estate. Public Trust can help guide you through that process.

Link to Department of Internal Affairs
Register a death

Link to Work and Income New Zealand
The person applying for a Funeral Grant must be able to provide estate details or other information about the person who has died (including details about any children they are responsible for).

Link to Accident Compensation Corporation
Death by accident – support for the family
– Survivor’s grants 
– Weekly compensation for spouse/partner 
– Weekly compensation for children
– Childcare 

Link to Veterans Affairs
Funeral expenses contribution

Link to MyTrove
Finalise tax affairs with Inland Revenue, cancel a passport with the Passports Office

Link to Certificate Services
Order a Death Certificate

Link to New Zealand Transport Agency
Cancel the driver’s license of a family member.

Link to Ministry of Social Development
When a super annuitant or veteran has died.

Link to Ministry of Social Development Living alone payment
Living alone payment.

Link to Inland Revenue Department
– Student Loan
– Child support payer or payee
– KiwiSaver Account
– Last tax return to be filed
– Tax return to be filed for the estate

Link to Land Information New Zealand
To transfer a home to the name of the surviving joint owner

Link to Ministry of Justice
– Apply for probate
– Get a copy of a will

Link to Tenancy Services
Refund of their bond money

Link to New Zealand Police
Disposal of a firearm

Your funeral director can run the legal side of your loved one’s passing.

a. Medical Certificate of cause of death (HP4720).
– when placing a death notice on HonourThem, we request to see the Medicate Certificate of cause of death or Medical Certificate of cause of fetal and neonatal death (HP4721).
– a doctor will supply this form and is used when a little one passes within 28 days of birth.

b. Coroners authorisation for release of body (Cor 3)
A coroner is called (by a doctor or ambulance officer) if they are unable to determine the cause of death, or if unexpected.

c. Transfer of charge of body (BDM39)
– If your loved one is in a hospital: You will be able to get the form from the hospital. They will require identification.
– If your loved one is at home: If your loved one is being transferred to a funeral director, a BDM39 is not required.

d. Permission to Cremate
– Completed by an authorised doctor. A different doctor to who has completed the Medicate Certificate of cause of death.
– A crematorium will not accept an Application for Cremation without this “Permission to Cremate Form”.

e. Application to Cremate (for the crematorium)
Your crematorium will have the forms for applying to use their services and facilities. Each crematorium have their own costs.

f. Application to Bury
Your cemetery will have the forms for applying to use their services and facilities. Each cemetery have their own costs. For example: Purewa Cemetery (Auckland) issue a “License of Right to Burial” and is issues under the provisions of the Burial and Cremations Act 1964.

g. Notification of death for registration form (BDM28)
Notification that a person has been buried or cremated must be sent to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages within three days of the burial or cremation.