How to get a certified copy of a death certificate in Ireland
Certified copies of the death certificate are needed by nearly every institution the estate touches, usually one original per institution. This page covers the three ways to order them in Ireland, how many to get, and when you need certified copies versus plain ones.
Certified copies of the death certificate are needed by nearly every institution the estate touches. Each bank, credit union, pension provider, utility, Revenue, the Probate Office, and any property registry will usually ask for a certified copy they can either inspect and return, or keep on file. Photocopies are accepted for informal use, but formal institutions almost always want an original certified copy.
How many copies you will need
Most Irish estates need between 6 and 12 certified copies, depending on how many institutions the deceased held accounts or obligations with. A typical estate with a house, two bank accounts, a credit union, a pension, two utilities, and the Revenue/Probate Office filing will use 8 to 10. Getting them all at once is cheaper than returning for extras later, and batch ordering is faster.
Step-by-step
Step 1: Register the death if it has not already been registered. Deaths in Ireland must be registered with the HSE Civil Registration Service within three months. Registration is free and is usually done by a qualified informant, which in most families is the next of kin, someone present at the death, or the person arranging the funeral. Registration generally happens at a Civil Registration Office with the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death that the doctor issues. Until the death is registered, no death certificate can be produced.
Step 2: Decide how many certified copies you need upfront. For a straightforward estate, order 8 to 10 certified copies. For more complex estates with many institutions, order 12 to 15. Each certified copy costs €20, so a batch of 10 is €200.
Step 3: Order online through the HSE Civil Registration Service. Certificates can be ordered at welfare.ie or via the Civil Registration Service online portal. Delivery by post is typically 5 to 10 working days. You will need the deceased's full name, date of death, and place of death. Payment is by card.
Step 4: Or order in person at a Civil Registration Office. In-person ordering is available at Civil Registration Offices in every county. The fee is the same (€20 per certified copy) but you get the certificates immediately, which matters if the Probate Office appointment is soon. Bring photo ID and the deceased's details. No appointment is usually needed.
Step 5: Keep the originals together and use photocopies for informal purposes. Institutions will usually return the certified copy once they have seen it, but some (banks especially) will retain one. Keep a master file with the remaining originals. Photocopies are fine for informal use but will not be accepted by banks, Revenue, or the Probate Office.
What to watch for
Some institutions will accept a certified copy that has been inspected by a solicitor or commissioner for oaths and stamped accordingly, even where the original stays with the estate. If you are running low on originals near the end of the administration, this can save ordering more. Check with each institution before assuming they will accept this.
If the death occurred abroad, you will generally need a foreign death certificate translated into English and possibly apostilled, depending on the country. This sits outside the HSE process and needs to be arranged separately. Most Irish banks will also want a death certificate from Ireland's Civil Registration Service if the person was Irish-resident at death, regardless of where they died.
Related reading
What to do next
Everything you need to complete a personal probate application yourself. Pre-filled SA2 form, 25 personalised notification letters, probate affidavit, asset tracker, appointment briefing, post-Grant administration guide, estate accounts template, and 6 months of milestone email reminders.