Registration (Births and Deaths) Amendment Bill 2024

What this bill does

This bill creates two new options for death certificates and notifications in Bermuda. It allows the Registrar-General to issue shorter, less detailed death certificates for $25, and lets doctors and coroners give basic death information quickly when they can't complete the full paperwork on time.

If passed (voted YES)

• Families can get a basic death certificate faster and cheaper ($25) that includes essential details like name, date of death, and place of death, but not cause of death
• Doctors and coroners can submit shortened death notices with just basic information when delays occur, preventing hold-ups in death registration
• The full detailed death certificate process still continues, but families don't have to wait for it to get basic documentation

If rejected (voted NO)

• Only the current full death certificates remain available, which take longer to process and include all details
• Doctors and coroners must complete the full Form E death notice within the current time limits, even if this causes registration delays
• No lower-cost option for families who only need basic death certificate information

Who it affects

This primarily affects bereaved families who need death certificates quickly for insurance, banking, or other urgent matters, as well as medical practitioners and coroners who sometimes face delays in completing detailed death documentation.