Registering a death

The law does not specify any time within which a death has to be registered but the need to make arrangements for the burial means it has to be reported to the registrar of births, marriages and deaths as soon as possible. The registrar of births, marriages and deaths alone is entitled to issue a burial permit. Nonetheless a period of 24 hours after the attestation of death by a doctor, who also decides upon the time and cause of death, will be taken into account. In Gembloux, a burial permit for cremation purposes formulated in a special form must be prepared by the medical officer appointed and paid for by the municipality.
A death has to be registered with the civil status department that covers the place where the death took place. It has to be registered by two adults, related or otherwise to the deceased (such as the undertaker) but it is better to arrange for someone close to be present so as to avoid any errors in the notification of death.
People making the declaration have to report to the civil status department to which they will provide the deceased person's identity card and marriage certificate and any documents to help support the declaration (such as the marriage certificate of the parents, SIS card [solely for the needy]). Where appropriate, they will also provide the deceased person's last will and testament.