When an individual dies, the death must be notified to the Disctrict commisioners as soon as possible after a medical doctor has issued a death certificate. A family member may either report the death electronically or attend to the Disctrict commisioners office.
The death certificate is either electronic or on paper. A medical doctor shall inform the family members whether the death certificate will be issued electronically or on paper.
An electronic death certificate is automatically sent to the Disctrict commisioners by the doctor who issues the death certificate. This is accompanied by information on the family member who will report the death to the Disctrict commisioners electronically. Next working day after receiving an electronic death certificate from the District Commissioners, the family member receives a letter in the mailbox of Iceland.is with further instructions. The electronic notification may designate another family member if necessary.
A death certificate on paper must be retrieved by a family member from the healthcare institution where it was issued and taken to the Disctrict commisioners office to report the death. The death may also be notified electronically once the death certificate has been passed to the Disctrict commisioners.
When the district commissioner has received an electronic death notice, a family member is sent the following documents to the mailbox at Ísland.is
Certificate of notification of death.
Authorisation to pay funeral expenses from the bank accounts of the deceased.
Authorisation to gather information on the status of the estate if the notifier is the heir.
If a notifier shows up to the Disctrict commisioners office he/she shall receive the above documents.
Functions may not take place until the priest or other person in charge of them receives a certificate stating that the death has been notified to the district commissioner. A family member presents the certificate to the person performing the funeral.
Service provider
District Commissioners