05/04/2026
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Marital Status on the Death Certificate.
The Department of Home Affairs will print whatever is on record on the government computer at the time of death, whether it is correct or not. The POPI act (protection of personal information) makes the changing of this status very difficult and only family members are allowed to make these changes via Home Affairs which can take a long time.
This can affect the winding up of a deceased estate.
It is therefore important to check with Home Affairs on what your status is especially in a divorce situation or with very large estates.
With the suspension of the online check offered by Home Affairs, this task demands more effort but can save a lot of trouble when trying to wind up an estate with an incorrect marital status.
If you get remarried, it is your responsibility to notify the hospital as well, as they will continue using the surname they use .. Pls these are very important.. once the BI 1663 is issued, we cannot just change things on it, and if Home Affairs has not been notified, we cannot get angry with them...
