What to Do When Someone Dies in Gambia: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Certification of Death

   • Hospital or medical facility deaths: When your family member dies in a public tertiary facility such as the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul, a regional district hospital, or a licensed private clinic overseen by the Ministry of Health of The Gambia, the attending medical practitioner examines the deceased and issues the official Medical Certificate of Cause of Death [1][5]. You will need to provide the deceased's Gambian National Identity Card, voter card, or passport so clinical records accurately match civil registration entries [1][5].
   • Deaths at home or in rural communities: If a natural death occurs at home, the family must obtain a written attestation from the local village head (Alkalo) or ward councillor confirming the identity of the deceased and the date and place of death, and report the event to the nearest public health centre under the Ministry of Health of The Gambia for medical verification [1][2].
   • Unexpected, accidental, or medico-legal deaths: If the death is sudden, unnatural, or occurs without prior medical attendance, it must be reported immediately to the Gambia Police Force [1][3]. The police refer the case to the Coroner under The Judiciary of The Gambia and arrange transfer of the remains to the pathology mortuary at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) for a post-mortem examination before a Coroner's burial or release order is issued [3][5].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Births and Deaths Registry

   • Issuing authority and statutory timeframe: Under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act of The Gambia, all deaths must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths operating under the Ministry of Health of The Gambia (with headquarters in Banjul and regional public health registration offices in Kanifing, Brikama, Mansakonko, Kerewan, Janjanbureh, and Basse) [1]. Statutory registration should be completed promptly - within 14 to 30 days of death - so the official certificate is available for benefits and estate administration [1][2].
   • Required documentation: A qualified informant (surviving spouse, adult child, next of kin, or person present at the death) must present the hospital Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (or the Alkalo attestation and health-centre clearance for community deaths), the deceased's National ID card or passport, and the informant's own valid identification [1][2].
   • Obtaining the official Death Certificate: Upon recording the entry in the civil register, the Registrar of Births and Deaths issues the official Death Certificate [1]. It is advisable to order several certified copies at the time of registration, as pension administrators, banks, and the Probate Registry each require certified originals [1][2][3].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Local burial or cremation: Municipal councils (such as Banjul City Council, Kanifing Municipal Council, and Brikama Area Council) and local community or religious cemetery committees require the hospital death notification, Coroner's order, or official Death Certificate and Burial Permit issued under the Ministry of Health of The Gambia before interment can proceed [1][5].
   • International repatriation of remains: If your family member was a foreign citizen or if the remains are to be repatriated abroad, a licensed funeral director in coordination with the mortuary at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) must obtain the official Death Certificate, an embalming certificate, a non-infectious disease clearance from the Public Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health of The Gambia, a hermetically sealed zinc-lined coffin certificate, a police clearance, and customs export clearance at Banjul International Airport [1][5].
   • Consular legalisation (non-Apostille country): Because The Gambia is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, Gambian Death Certificates and court orders that must be used in another country require consular legalisation: first, authentication by the Ministry of Justice of The Gambia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad in Banjul; and second, legalisation by the diplomatic mission or consulate of the destination country [3][4].
4. 4

   Notify Social Security, Pension, Tax, and Banking Authorities

   • Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) survivor claims: If the deceased contributed to the National Provident Fund (NPF), the Federated Pension Scheme (FPS), or the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund, survivors should file a death benefit claim with the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) [2]. Claimants must submit the official Death Certificate (or verified Alkalo and medical certificate where applicable), the deceased's SSHFC social security membership card, national ID cards or birth certificates of nominated beneficiaries, and passport-sized photographs [2].
   • Civil service pensions and Gambia Revenue Authority: If the deceased was a central government civil servant or uniformed officer, notify the Personnel Management Office (PMO) and the Directorate of National Treasury to process statutory death gratuities and survivor pensions [2][3]. If the deceased held a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or operated a business, notify the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) to close tax accounts [3][4].
   • Commercial banks and insurers: Present the certified Death Certificate to all Gambian commercial banks where the deceased held accounts so sole accounts are frozen pending formal probate or administration authority [2][3].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate and Succession (Probate)

   • High Court Probate vs. Letters of Administration: Estate succession in The Gambia is overseen by the Probate Registry of the High Court under The Judiciary of The Gambia [3]. If the deceased left a valid written Will under the Wills Act, the named executor applies to the High Court for a Grant of Probate [3]. If the deceased died intestate (without a will), the surviving family applies for Letters of Administration, or the estate may be administered through the Curator of Intestate Estates under the Ministry of Justice of The Gambia (pursuant to the Intestate Estates Act) [3][4].
   • Dual legal system (common law vs. Sharia/customary rules): Under the Laws of The Gambia, testate estates and non-Muslim intestate estates follow English-derived common law and statutory rules, whereas the intestate estates of deceased Muslims are distributed in accordance with Islamic inheritance law (Mirath) administered by the Cadi Court (Qadi Court) within The Judiciary of The Gambia, which issues the formal distribution certificate (Farid) [3][4].
   • Cross-border estates and foreign grants: The Gambia does not impose a separate inheritance tax, though court probate fees and property transfer duties apply when re-registering real property at the Deeds Registry under the Ministry of Justice of The Gambia [3][4]. Where a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration was issued in a Commonwealth or foreign country, it can be resealed by the High Court of The Gambia under the Probates (Re-sealing) Act, and heirs residing abroad may act through a consular-authenticated Power of Attorney [3][4].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Ministry of Health of The Gambia - Births and Deaths Registry and Public Health Services — Ministry of Health of The Gambia
2. [2]
   Federated Pension Scheme and Survivor Benefit Claims — Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC)
3. [3]
   The Judiciary of The Gambia - High Court and Cadi Court Administration — Government of the Republic of The Gambia
4. [4]
   Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Chambers - Curator of Intestate Estates and Deeds Registry — Ministry of Justice of The Gambia
5. [5]
   Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) - Clinical and Mortuary Services — Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital