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

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Certification of Death

   • Hospital or clinical deaths: When a death occurs at Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital in Motootua (Apia), Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital in Tuasivi (Savai'i), or a district health facility operated under the Ministry of Health, the attending medical practitioner examines the body and issues an official Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Death Notification Form) [1, 2]. You should obtain signed copies from the hospital records office before transferring the deceased to a mortuary.
   • Deaths at home or in a village (natural causes): If your family member died at home or in a village in Upolu or Savai'i from natural causes without a doctor present, you must notify a registered medical practitioner or the nearest district health center to examine the body, and obtain written confirmation from the village mayor (Pulenu'u / Sui o le Nu'u) and the officiating church minister [1, 2].
   • Unexpected, accidental, or unexplained deaths: Under the Coroners Ordinance 1959 and court oversight administered by the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (MJCA), any sudden, violent, accidental, or unexplained death must be reported immediately to the Samoa Police Service [3]. The police refer the case to the Coroner, who may order a forensic post-mortem examination at the national hospital mortuary before issuing a coroner's authorization for burial or release of the body [1, 3].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Samoa Bureau of Statistics

   • Statutory registration authority and 14-day deadline: Under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2002, all deaths in Samoa must be officially registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Division of the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), located at the Mulinu'u or Apia government complex in Upolu or the Salelologa branch office in Savai'i [1, 2]. Statutory registration must be completed within 14 days of the date of death [2].
   • Required documents for civil registration: To register the death and obtain an official Samoan Death Certificate, an immediate family member or funeral director must submit the completed Death Registration Form, the original hospital Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (or village Pulenu'u and church minister confirmation for community deaths), the deceased's birth certificate or passport, and valid photo identification of the informant [1, 2].
   • Late registration requirements: If a death is registered after the statutory window, the Registrar General at the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) requires supplemental supporting evidence, such as hospital archive verification, church burial records, a statutory declaration explaining the delay, and payment of the prescribed late registration fee [2].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Local funeral, customary burial, or cemetery permits: Families in Samoa typically coordinate mortuary care, embalming, and casket preparation through a licensed funeral home in Apia (such as Sefo's Funeral Home or Ligaliga Funeral Home) [1]. Burials may take place at public cemeteries or on approved family land in accordance with village council rules and public health sanitation regulations enforced by the Ministry of Health [4].
   • International repatriation of human remains: If the deceased is to be repatriated overseas (for example, to New Zealand, Australia, or the United States), the licensed funeral provider must arrange full arterial embalming, a hermetically sealed zinc-lined or metal shipping casket, a Certificate of Non-Contagious Disease and Embalming Certificate from the Ministry of Health, an official Death Certificate from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), and customs and aviation security clearance at Faleolo International Airport [1, 4].
   • Apostille legalization and foreign consular notification: If your family member was a foreign citizen, notify their embassy or high commission in Apia immediately to obtain a consular mortuary certificate. Because Samoa is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, Samoan Death Certificates destined for use abroad can receive an official Apostille certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Apia [1, 2].
4. 4

   Notify Provident Fund, Pension, Tax, and Banking Authorities

   • Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) death benefits: If your family member was a contributor or pensioner with the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF), notify the fund's main office in Apia or Savai'i promptly [5]. Surviving nominated beneficiaries or legal dependents can claim the deceased member's accumulated contribution balance and any applicable Special Death Benefit or funeral assistance grant by submitting the official SBS Death Certificate, marriage or birth certificates proving relationship, and valid identification [5].
   • Senior Citizens Benefit Fund (SCBF) notification: If the deceased was aged 65 or older and receiving the government monthly pension under the Senior Citizens Benefit Fund administered by the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF), the family must report the death so that monthly pension payments are closed and any final month entitlement is reconciled [5].
   • Banking and tax notifications: Present certified copies of the SBS Death Certificate to all commercial banks in Samoa (such as Bank South Pacific, ANZ Samoa, or National Bank of Samoa) and the Ministry for Revenue (Inland Revenue Services) to freeze sole bank accounts, settle any outstanding income or business tax obligations, and cancel official identity credentials [2, 3].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate, Probate, and Succession in Samoa

   • Probate and Letters of Administration under the Administration Act 1975: Estate administration in Samoa is governed by the Wills Act 1975 and the Administration Act 1975 [6]. Where the deceased left a valid written will, the named executor must apply to the Supreme Court of Samoa - administered by the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (MJCA) - for a Grant of Probate [3, 6]. If the deceased died intestate (without a will), the surviving spouse or next-of-kin must petition the Supreme Court for Letters of Administration, or the estate may be administered through the Public Trust Office [3, 6].
   • Freehold property vs. customary land rules: Under Article 102 of the Constitution of Samoa and the Administration Act 1975, only freehold land and personal property (such as bank accounts, vehicles, shares, and business assets) form part of the probate estate distributed under a will or statutory intestacy rules [6]. Customary land cannot be devised by will and is governed separately by Samoan custom and usage and the Land and Titles Court under the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (MJCA) [3, 6].
   • Taxation and cross-border coordination: Samoa does not levy a separate inheritance or estate duty on deceased estates, though court probate filing fees and property transfer registration fees apply [3, 6]. If heirs reside overseas (such as in New Zealand, Australia, or the United States) or if foreign grants of probate must be recognized in Samoa, the Supreme Court can reseal Commonwealth probate grants or accept notarized and Apostilled affidavits from overseas executors [3, 6].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Registration Services — Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS)
2. [2]
   Frequently Asked Questions - Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Deadlines and Documents — Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS)
3. [3]
   Supreme Court and Civil Courts Division - Probate and Letters of Administration — Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (MJCA)
4. [4]
   Health Acts, Public Health Regulations and Clinical Governance in Samoa — Ministry of Health
5. [5]
   Senior Citizens Benefit Fund (SCBF) and Provident Fund Member Entitlements — Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF)
6. [6]
   Administration Act 1975 (Consolidated Text) — Office of the Attorney General of Samoa