Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

REGISTRATION OF DEATHS ABROAD ACT 1984 - SECT 21

             (1)  Subject to subsection (4), where the Registrar is satisfied that there is an error or mis‑statement in, or an omission from, any particulars entered in a Certificate of Death Abroad, he or she may correct the Certificate by causing the true particulars, or the particulars omitted from the Certificate, as the case may be, to be entered in the certificate.

             (2)  Where the Registrar causes particulars to be entered in a Certificate of Death Abroad under subsection (1), he or she shall sign his or her name immediately under the particulars and write the date on which those particulars were so entered.

             (3)  Where a person believes that there is an error or mis‑statement in, or an omission from, any particulars entered in a Certificate of Death Abroad, he or she may apply, in writing, to the Registrar for the correction in accordance with subsection (1) of the Certificate in relation to those particulars, specifying the error, mis‑statement or omission that he or she believes exists and the reasons for his or her belief.

             (4)  Where the Registrar intends to exercise his or her powers under subsection (1) in respect of a Certificate of Death Abroad, otherwise than on the application of the person who applied for the registration of the death to which the Certificate relates, he or she shall, unless he or she is satisfied that it is impracticable to do so, give that person notice in writing of his or her intention specifying the particulars that he or she intends to cause to be entered in the Certificate and, where he or she gives such notice, he or she shall not cause those particulars to be entered in the Certificate unless and until he or she has considered any objection made by that person, within 14 days after the giving of the notice, to the entry of those particulars.

             (5)  Any failure by the Registrar to comply with the requirements of subsection (4) shall not be taken to affect the validity of any entry of particulars in a Certificate of Death Abroad under subsection (1).

             (6)  Where the Registrar is satisfied that there is an error or mis‑statement in, or an omission from, any particulars entered in a Certificate of Death Abroad, he or she may require the person who holds the Certificate to surrender the Certificate to him or her so that the Certificate may be corrected in accordance with subsection (1) but, after the Registrar has corrected the Certificate, he or she shall return the Certificate to that person.

             (7)  A person who holds a Certificate of Death Abroad who is required by the Registrar under subsection (6) to surrender the Certificate shall comply with the requirement.

Penalty:  $500.

             (8)  In this section, Certificate of Death Abroad includes a copy of such a Certificate made by a registering officer under subsection 15(3) or (4).