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

1. 1

   Medical verification and official certification of death

   The first requirement is an official medical certification of the cause of death under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 [1][2]:

   • Death in a hospital or nursing facility: The attending hospital physician verifies the death and issues the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death on Form 4 (for institutional in-patient deaths), which is required before the hospital mortuary releases the body and before civil registration can proceed [1][2].
   • Natural death at home: If the deceased was under the care of a registered medical practitioner (RMP), call that physician to examine the body and issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death on Form 4A (for non-institutional deaths) [1][2].
   • Sudden, accidental, or unattended death outside a hospital: Do not move the body. Call the national emergency response number 112 so the local police can attend, record a First Information Report (FIR) or inquest report under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (formerly Section 174 CrPC), and arrange a post-mortem examination at an authorised government hospital before issuing a police No Objection Certificate (NOC) for cremation or burial [2].
2. 2

   Checking funeral pre-arrangements and appointing an authorised provider

   Check whether your family member held a pre-arranged funeral plan, employer medical/welfare cover, or repatriation policy before making independent commitments. In India, burial or cremation is normally carried out promptly (often within 24 hours for natural deaths, or once the post-mortem and police clearance are completed), unless the body is placed in an authorised hospital or municipal mortuary freezer while relatives travel:

   • Local cremation or burial: The family or an appointed local funeral provider books a slot at the municipal crematorium, burial ground, or cemetery (such as facilities managed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, or local Nagar Palika / Gram Panchayat) by presenting the doctor's Form 4 or Form 4A (plus the police NOC in medico-legal cases) and the deceased's identity document (such as an Aadhaar card) [1][2].
   • Domestic or cross-border transport: If the remains must be transported to another state or abroad, appoint an experienced funeral and mortuary service to arrange embalming, a coffin sealing certificate, and public health clearance.
3. 3

   Registering the death with the civil registry within 21 days

   Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, every death must be registered with the local Registrar of Births and Deaths (Municipal Corporation, Municipality, or Gram Panchayat) for the jurisdiction where the death occurred within 21 days [1][2]:

   • Who reports the death: For a hospital death, the medical institution normally transmits the institutional death report and Form 4 directly to the local Registrar, after which the family collects or downloads the official Death Certificate [1][2]. For a death at home, the head of the household or closest relative submits the report (Form 2), the doctor's Form 4A, and the cremation or burial ground receipt through the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal or at the municipal citizen service centre [1][2].
   • Late registration: Registration within 21 days is free of statutory late penalty; registration between 21 and 30 days requires a late fee and registrar permission, between 30 days and 1 year requires written permission from the designated higher authority and an affidavit, and after 1 year requires an order from an Executive Magistrate [2].
   • Certificates and identity updates: Obtain multiple certified copies (or digitally signed CRS copies) of the official Death Certificate [1]. In India, civil registration does not automatically close bank accounts, pensions, or tax profiles, so the family must notify each institution directly.
4. 4

   Claiming funeral grants, survivor pensions, and social security benefits

   Depending on the deceased's employment and insurance history, eligible nominees or surviving family members can apply for statutory benefits:

   • Employees' Provident Fund Organisation: If the deceased contributed to the EPF, the registered nominee or legal heirs submit the unified Composite Claim Form in Death Cases (which combines Form 20 for the final Provident Fund balance, Form 10D for the Employees' Pension Scheme monthly survivor pension, and Form 5IF for the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance lump-sum assurance payout) online via the Member e-Sewa portal or through the last employer to the regional office of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (toll-free helpline 14470 or 1800-118-005) [3].
   • Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): If the deceased was an insured worker under the ESI scheme, the eldest surviving family member or the person who paid for the funeral can claim lump-sum ESIC Funeral Expenses (up to INR 15,000 to INR 20,000 under applicable rules) using ESIC Form 22 [4], and eligible dependants can claim monthly Dependants' Benefit if death resulted from an employment injury.
   • Overseas migrant workers (PBBY): If the deceased worked abroad under the Emigration Check Required (ECR) framework and held cover under the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, accidental death and repatriation claims (up to INR 10 lakh sum insured) are filed through the insurer and the Ministry of External Affairs eMigrate framework [5].
5. 5

   Notifying banks, insurers, and tax authorities and completing estate succession

   To settle the estate, transfer assets, and complete tax compliance:

   • Legal Heir Certificate, Succession Certificate, or Probate: Apply to the local Tehsildar, Talukdar, or Revenue Officer (often via the state e-District portal) for a Legal Heir Certificate (or Surviving Member Certificate) to handle routine pension, employer, and utility transfers. If the deceased held financial assets (such as bank deposits or securities) without a registered nominee and without a will, apply to the competent Civil Court for a Succession Certificate under the Indian Succession Act, 1925. If the deceased left a will, confirm whether formal court Probate or Letters of Administration are mandatory in the relevant high court / presidency jurisdiction.
   • Banks and life insurers: Notify each bank and life insurer (such as LIC or private insurers) with the Death Certificate, KYC documents, and either the registered nomination claim form or the Legal Heir / Succession Certificate.
   • Income Tax compliance: The legal heir or executor must register as a Representative Assessee on the e-Filing portal of the Income Tax Department (national helpline 1800-103-0025 or 1800-419-0025) by uploading the Death Certificate, the PAN cards of both the deceased and the legal heir, and the Legal Heir or Succession Certificate, in order to file the final income tax return for the period up to the date of death [6]. India does not levy a separate inheritance or estate tax.

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civil Registration System (CRS) - Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
2. [2]
   Form for Birth and Death Registration by Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India — National Portal of India (india.gov.in)
3. [3]
   Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI) & Death Claims — Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
4. [4]
   ESIC Form 22: Funeral Expenses Claim — National Portal of India (india.gov.in)
5. [5]
   Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) — Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
6. [6]
   Register as Legal Heir (Representative Assessee) — Income Tax Department, Government of India