New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- A death certificate is an official record of an individual's death. It is an extremely important document for the family to obtain after the demise of a near and dear one. The registration of deaths is mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

For families, this document is also critical for personal finances, as legal heirs of an individual may need it to claim life insurance, provident fund, mutual fund proceeds, demat and stock holdings, and to file the deceased's income tax returns, among other key matters.

This document may also be required when dealing with property/estate redistribution, as well as loans and liabilities left behind by the deceased.

A death is registered with the Regi...