Hours:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Holidays)

How to apply

1) You can apply at the Vital Statistics office in Halifax (see address above).  This is the ONLY way to get a certificate immediately.

2) You can submit your application on-line; it will be processed within the next 10 business days, and then the certificate will be mailed to you.  (You need a Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card to apply on-line.)

3) You can apply by mail.

4) You can apply at any Access Nova Scotia Centre, or any Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

A convenient application form is available.  To get one:

1) download a form for a Death Certificate; or 
2) call the number listed above and press 2 to talk to a customer service representative, who can have one mailed to you; or 
3) write or fax the Vital Statistics office listed above; or 
4) visit the Vital Statistics office in Halifax, or any Access Nova Scotia Centre, or any Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

The information you need to provide is explained under Additional Information, below.

1) mail or deliver it to the Vital Statistics office in Halifax (see address above);

2) take it to any Access Nova Scotia Centre or Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

In case of emergency, the certificate can be sent by courier to the applicant.  There is an additional charge of $20 for this service.

All other applications:  10 business days from the time the application reaches the Halifax office, plus additional days for postal delivery

Payment:  

Payment at the Vital Statistics office:  cash, Interac debit card, Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card, or cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance.

Payment by Mail:  Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card or by cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance

Payment on-line or by fax:  Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card.

Note:  you can make payment on-line for previous requests, using "payment on account"

1. Searches
   All certificate prices include a three-year search.

   A three-year search may be requested without a certificate (confirmation of event only) for $5.45.  

   The search fee for genealogy is $16.30 for the first-three year period and $10.90 for any three-year period thereafter.

2. Restrictions:  Release of all long form death certificates are subject to restrictions as set out in the Vital Statistics Act.
    
3. All certificates are issued in accordance with information on file and cannot be returned for refund.

Death Certificates:

(a) The Short form death certificate contains this information:

Name (as it was reported to Vital Statistics)
sex and age
date and place of death
registration date & number, and date issued.

(b) The Long form death certificate contains all the information in (a) plus as much as possible of the following: date of birth; place of birth; residence; occupation; marital status; name of spouse; names of father and mother; names of attending physician, and funeral director, disposition and place of disposition; name and address of informant; and relationship to deceased.  (Note: sometimes the informant does not forward all that information to the Vital Statistics office.) Because that is confidential information, this is a restricted document; all applications are subject to review by the Deputy Registrar General.

(c) The certified copy of death registration contains all the information in (b) plus: the cause of death.  Such a certificate is sometimes required by an insurance company, for estate purposes, or for medical reasons.  Because that is confidential information, this is a restricted document; all applications are subject to review by the Deputy Registrar General. 

Certified copies of death registrations containing cause of death are released only to next-of-kin or an executor of an estate in selected circumstances and with the authorization of the Minister or a court order.

To get a Death Certificate, you must know this about the deceased: name (as full as possible); date and place of death; and permanent residence prior to death.  To apply for a Long form, you must also state your relationship to the deceased.  They are usually issued to close family members, next of kin, or the executor of an estate.  If applying in person or by mail, you will be required to provide some identification.

Who qualifies to apply for a Death Certificate
Short Form Death Certificates may be released to any person who has a valid reason for requiring the document.
Long form death certificates may be released to:
a) Next-of-kin of the deceased; or
b) Trustee or executor/executrix of an estate.