Dánarvottorð

Dánarvottorð, meaning death certificate in Icelandic, is an official document issued by the National Registry of Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands). It serves as legal proof of a person's death and contains essential information such as the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and the cause of death as determined by a physician.

The process of obtaining a dánarvottorð typically begins with a medical professional confirming the death. Subsequently, the physician or a designated authority is responsible for reporting the death to the National Registry. This report includes the necessary details to populate the death certificate. Once the information is processed and verified, the dánarvottorð is officially issued.

This document is crucial for various administrative and legal procedures following a death. It is required for matters such as settling estates, claiming insurance benefits, notifying relevant authorities, and for genealogical purposes. Without a dánarvottorð, it can be challenging or impossible to carry out these necessary tasks. In cases of suspected unnatural death or when a death occurs without medical supervision, an investigation by the police or a coroner may be required before a death certificate can be issued. The National Registry maintains records of all issued death certificates.