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Death certificate: request for full copy
Verified 11 mars 2021 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
A full copy of the death certificate may be issued to any person who so requests. The process of obtaining it depends on the place of death. They're free.
Deaths in France
The complete copy shall reproduce in full the information contained in the death certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It states:
- Date, time and place of death
- First names, surname, date and place of birth, profession and domicile of the deceased
- First names, names, occupations and homes of his parents
- First and last names of Civil partnership partner
- Given names, name, age, occupation and domicile of the declarant (if applicable, his or her degree of kinship with the deceased)
FYI : death is mentioned in the margin of the deceased's birth certificate.
Any person may apply for a death certificate, without any specific justification.
You can apply either to the town hall of the deceased's place of death or to the town hall of the deceased's last domicile.
Online
Application for death certificate (in France) - Free service
Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Dila) - Prime Minister
On site
The request can be made at the ticket office by giving the name and first name of the deceased and the date of death.
No documents are required.
By mail
The request may be sent by post on free paper, specifying the name and first names of the deceased and the date of death.
Free
Online
The document is sent to the applicant's home and usually arrives within days.
However, the delivery time may vary depending on the processing by the City Hall services and the delivery time of the mail.
On site
The document is issued immediately.
By mail
The document is sent to the applicant's home and usually arrives within days.
However, the delivery time may vary depending on the processing by the City Hall services and the delivery time of the mail.
Foreigner death
The complete copy shall reproduce in full the information contained in the death certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It states:
- Date, time and place of death
- First names, surname, date and place of birth, profession and domicile of the deceased
- First names, names, occupations and homes of his parents
- First and last names of Civil partnership partner
- Given names, name, age, occupation and domicile of the declarant (if applicable, his or her degree of kinship with the deceased)
FYI : death is mentioned in the margin of the deceased's birth certificate.
Any person may apply for a death certificate, without any specific justification.
Online
To apply online, you must create a Service-Public.fr account or connect with FranceConnect.
When the act is available, you will need to log in again: you can download it in PDF format on your personal space. You can also ask to receive it by mail.
The document shall include the electronic signature of a registrar.
Foreigner Death Request - Free Service
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
By mail
You must apply to the Nantes Central Registry Office (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The application may be made on free paper, specifying the name and first names of the deceased and the date of death.
Who shall I contact
Central Registry Office (Scec) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Foreigner (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman
Only by mail to:
Central Registry Office - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can also use the online service
For additional information, you can:
- View Site diplomacy.govt.fr
- Call+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm
Free access to a video-interpretation or instant voice transcription service for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
FYI : to obtain a copy of a death certificate from a deceased foreign person in the foreigner, you must contact the authority that issued the certificate in the country concerned.
Free
Online
The time limit for issuing an act is approximately 10 calendar days. The document includes the electronic signature of a registrar.
To get it, you have to sign in to your Service-Public.fr account. You can download the PDF document in your personal space online.
By mail
The time limit for issuing an act is approximately 10 calendar days, increased by the time of delivery by post.