Genealogy Chat

I have been told the privacy laws in Australia prevent the access of death certificates until 30 years have passed. Well if a death took place in 1981 does it mean you can access in 2011 or 2012?

Simon

Hopefully someone with specific knowledge will be able to answer. If you suspect where they may have been living, have you checked the State Archive web site?

A number of deaths have been listed on Cemetery websites, or notices pubilshed in the papers. This site may help

http://rmhh.co.uk/australia.html

TonyOz on here also has a thread about Australian research. have you looked at that for tips?

Tips Board: * AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH TIPS *
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1164799&jump=7277970

Thanks DET we do have a grave for our chap in Oz in 1981, we need a death certificate for him.

Hopefully the Australian luvvies on here will be able to help later if they are viewing. thanks for your tip .
Simon

Simon,

From the NSWBDM website:

We collect sensitive and private data about you and your family, and have stringent entitlement and identification policies to protect against Identity Fraud. Our certificates are categorised as 'restricted' or 'unrestricted':

* Restricted records — normally only available to the person named on the certificate and identification is always required.

* Unrestricted records — (Family History) available to anyone. No Identification required.

Births - 100 years ago or more
Deaths - 30 years ago or more
Marriages - 50 years ago or more

There are a number of people who do look ups so including the state you need might help as each state seem to have their own privacy laws.

Gai

It depends on which state the death occurred in: for NSW, QLD, NT & ACT you are correct in that death certs are only available generally after 30 years. For SA, TAS and WA the limit is 25 years. For VIC, death certs are available up until 1985. Next of kin can obtain more recent certs in all cases.

Therefore, if the death you want (1981) was in NSW, QLD, NT or ACT then you will need to wait until 2012, unless you are next of kin to the deceased. If it was in any of the other states, you should be able to get it now.

A couple of useful links for info about Aus certs:

http://www.coraweb.com.au/bdmaut.htm
http://www.jaunay.com/bdm.html


Cheers,
Richard

Thank you Gai and Richard, the death was 1981 NSW Norah Head, so it looks like waiting until 2012 then.

Thanks again
Simon

That's right Simon. NSW death certs are currently available for 1979. On 1st January 2011 (or thereabouts) the certs for 1980 will become available. So you have just over a year to wait for 1981.