What to Do When Someone Dies in Saint Kitts and Nevis: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Certification of Death or Coroner Clearance

   • Deaths in a hospital or clinical facility: When your family member dies at a public or private medical facility in the Federation - such as the Joseph N. France General Hospital in Basseterre (Saint Kitts) or the Alexandra Hospital in Charlestown (Nevis) under the Ministry of Health - the attending medical practitioner issues the official Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death [1] [4].
   • Deaths at home from natural causes: If your family member died at home while under medical care for a known illness, contact the treating physician or district medical officer immediately to examine the body and complete the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death [1] [4]. You should also notify the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force so officers can attend the residence and confirm there are no suspicious circumstances [1].
   • Sudden, accidental, or unexplained deaths: If the death was unexpected, accidental, or occurred without recent medical attendance, notify the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force immediately [1]. The police report the death to the District Magistrate acting as Coroner, who may order a forensic post-mortem examination before issuing a Coroner's Certificate and Burial Order [1].
2. 2

   Register the Death and Obtain Official Death Certificates

   • Where and when to register: Under the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, every death must be registered with the District Registrar or the Registrar General's Office in Basseterre (for Saint Kitts) or the Registrar General Department in Charlestown (for Nevis) within the statutory registration period (normally within five days of the death or upon receipt of the Coroner's certificate) [1].
   • Required documentation: A qualified informant (such as a relative present at the death, an occupant of the house, or the person causing the body to be buried) must present the signed Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death or Coroner's Order, along with the deceased's official identification, birth certificate, or passport [1].
   • Obtaining certified copies: Once the entry is recorded in the civil register, apply to the Registrar General's Office of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis for multiple certified copies of the Death Certificate, which are required for social security claims, bank notifications, and court probate filings [1] [3].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Appointing a licensed funeral provider: Engage a licensed funeral home in Saint Kitts or Nevis to handle mortuary transfer, embalming, and cemetery or cremation arrangements [1] [2]. Burial or cremation cannot take place without the Registrar's Certificate of Registration of Death or the Coroner's Burial Order, together with public health clearance from the environmental health authorities under the Ministry of Health [1] [4].
   • International repatriation of remains: If your family member's body or cremated remains must be transported abroad, the funeral director coordinates with the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health to obtain an official burial-transit and export permit, an embalming certificate, a certificate of non-contagious disease, and ahermetic coffin sealing certificate for customs and airline clearance [4].
   • Consular notification and Apostille legalization: When the deceased was a foreign citizen or when Saint Kitts and Nevis death certificates must be used in another jurisdiction, notify the relevant foreign embassy or consulate and obtain an Apostille certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Legal Department of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention [1].
4. 4

   Notify Social Security, Tax, and Financial Authorities and Claim Survivor Benefits

   • Social Security Funeral Grant and Survivor Pension: Report the death to the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board to stop any ongoing retirement or invalidity pension and claim survivor entitlements [2]. Under the Social Security (Benefits) Regulations, a one-off Funeral Grant is payable upon the death of an insured contributor, pensioner, or their spouse if the contribution requirements are met [2]. Submit the Funeral Grant Claim Form (Form FG1) to the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board within six months of the date of death, enclosing the original Death Certificate and itemized funeral invoices or receipts [2]. Eligible surviving spouses and dependent children should also apply for a Survivor's Benefit (Widow's/Widower's Allowance or Child's Allowance) [2].
   • Tax, identity, and public records: Notify the Inland Revenue Department of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to settle any final tax obligations, return the deceased's national identification card and passport for cancellation, and inform the Electoral Office [1].
   • Banks, credit unions, and insurers: Provide certified copies of the Death Certificate to all commercial banks, credit unions, and insurance companies in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Sole bank accounts will remain frozen until a court grant of representation is produced, while life insurance policies with named beneficiaries are processed directly with the insurer [3].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate and Obtain Probate or Letters of Administration

   • Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration: Estate succession in the Federation is governed by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Non-Contentious Probate and Administration of Estates) Rules and filed with the High Court Registry in Basseterre (Saint Kitts circuit) or Charlestown (Nevis circuit) [3]. If your family member left a valid Will, the named executor applies for a Grant of Probate (using Form P1); if your family member died intestate (without a Will), the next of kin applies for Letters of Administration (using Form P2) [3].
   • Court filings and estate valuations: The application to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court High Court Registry must include the original Will (if any), a certified copy of the Death Certificate, a Certificate of Search confirming no prior grant or caveat has been filed, the Oath of the Executor or Administrator, and a Declaration and Account of the Estate detailing the value of all property in Saint Kitts and Nevis [3]. While Saint Kitts and Nevis does not levy a general inheritance tax on beneficiaries, court filing fees and statutory stamp duties apply to estate filings and real property transfers [3].
   • Cross-border estates and resealing foreign grants: If a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has already been issued by a court in another Commonwealth jurisdiction or the United Kingdom, an attorney-at-law in Saint Kitts and Nevis can apply to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court High Court Registry to reseal the foreign grant so local real estate and bank assets can be administered [3].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civil Registration and Vital Certificates - Registrar General's Office — Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis
2. [2]
   Funeral Grant and Survivor Benefit Guidelines — St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board
3. [3]
   Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Non-Contentious Probate and Administration of Estates) Rules - Saint Christopher and Nevis — Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
4. [4]
   Health and Social Security Services in Saint Kitts and Nevis — Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis