Guidelines for Post-Death Procedures

In the unfortunate loss of a family member, the required procedures vary depending on the circumstances of the death. In the Kingdom of Bahrain,  Law No. (7) of 2019 for the Regulation of Birth and Death Registrations. (PDF, 12 Pages, 137 KB, Arabic only) stipulates the completion of certain procedures and the submission of specific documents. To support individuals and families during this difficult time, the “Guidelines for Post-Death Procedures” provides clear information on the required documents, procedures, and available services.

Guidelines for Reporting a Death

Deaths occurring within the Kingdom of Bahrain:

1. Death Inside a Hospital

• The attending physician will register the death case through the designated electronic system.
• You will be provided with a copy of the death notification. Verify the accuracy of the received notification carefully, as it is required use in the burial procedures and issuance of the death certificate.

2. Death Outside of the Hospital

• Call the emergency number (999)
• The staff member concerned will inquire about your personal information, phone number, and address.
• Follow the staff members’ instructions, who will take the necessary steps to notify the relevant authorities.
• The forensic doctor will record the death notification
• If the death is natural, the forensic doctor will provide you with a copy of the notification to be used for burial procedures and issuing the death certificate
• If the death is non-natural, the forensic doctor will inform the relevant authorities to take the necessary actions and then provide you with a copy for use in burial procedures and issuing the death certificate

In the event of a death occurring outside the Kingdom of Bahrain:

• Ensure that you follow the guidelines of the country where you reside regarding the procedures to be followed in the event of a death. Contact the emergency numbers in that country.
• Contact the nearest embassy, consulate, or diplomatic representation offices to report the death, either by phone or via email (cod@mofa.gov.bh)
• Make sure to provide your contact information, as well as all personal details of the deceased, including the place and date of death, and the contact information of the closest relatives of the deceased in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Deadlines for reporting deaths:

• 72 hours from the date of death for cases within the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• 60 days from the date of death for cases outside the Kingdom of Bahrain

Guidelines Regarding Burial

1. Follow the hospital's procedures to receive and transport the deceased to the cemetery.
2. Retain a copy of the death notification to complete the burial arrangements.

Guidelines for Issuing the Death Certificate

After completing the burial procedures, you must obtain the death certificate to fulfill all the legal and financial procedures related to the deceased.

To request a death certificate electronically:

• Through the national portal bahrain.bh, you can access the death certificate issuance service and submit your request online.
• Please note that the online application will require you to have the deceased person's personal identification number (CPR)

To request a death certificate by visiting IGA - Births and Deaths department:

• Visit the service centre of the Information & eGovernment Authority in Isa Town
• Follow the waiting procedure and proceed to the relevant staff member with your ID, the original death notification, and the deceased person's supporting documents.
• The informant must be a relative of the deceased up to the second degree to receive the death certificate.

Guidelines for the Deceased's Estate (Inheritance)

The issuance of the Islamic inheritance share:

The issuance of inheritance share involves calculating the inheritance portions for each heir and ensuring that the deceased's assets are distributed in accordance with Islamic legal principles.

The estate of the deceased refers to all the assets and properties left by a person after their death that have financial value and can be bought, sold, or acquired.

To obtain the Islamic inheritance share, please follow the steps below:

1. Visit the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments website at www.moj.gov.bh, click on the "Forms" link, and save the "Islamic Inheritance Request Form" to your personal device
2. Print the form, fill in the necessary information, then send it, along with the following documents, to the email address sr@moj.gov.bh:
   • Copy of the death certificate
   • IDs or passports of the heirs
   • A copy of the deceased's will, provided that the will is officially authenticated in the Sharia court before the death.
3. Link to the Islamic Inheritance Form:

If there are heirs under 21 years old subject to travel bans or serving prison sentences:

1. Inform the Minors Affairs Department at the Ministry of Justice to open an estate file by sending the "Estate File Opening Form" and the mentioned documents in the form to the email address minors.info@moj.gov.bh or contact the call center on 17513513
2. Link to the Estate File Opening Form

After determining the inheritance and identifying the deceased's heirs, you, as an heir, can appoint a legal representative to manage the deceased's estate by visiting one of the notary public offices to issue power of attorney.

Other religions Procedures:

The service is carried out by filing a lawsuit to complete the procedures of the deceased’s estate (Inheritance).