Queensland Consolidated Acts

BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 2003 - SECT 28

28 Responsibility to apply to have death registered

(1) If the death of a person must be registered in Queensland, a spouse or relative of the deceased person must apply to register the death, unless the spouse or relative has a reasonable excuse.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(2) If the registrar does not receive an application under subsection (1) , the registrar may require 1 of the following persons to apply to register the death—

(a) the person in charge of the place where the person died;

(b) the person finding the body;

(c) the person arranging for the disposal of the deceased person’s body.

Example of a place mentioned in subsection (2)(a)—

a hospital or nursing home

Example of a person mentioned in subsection (2)(c)—

a personal representative or funeral director

(3) A person must comply with the registrar’s requirement, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(4) A person does not commit an offence against subsection (1) if someone else has applied to register the death.

(5) In this section—

"relative" includes a relative by marriage.