Tonga - Register Death

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Procedure

1. The death is registered in the district where the event occurred.
2. Informants will be required to complete a registration form with the assistance of the clerk.
3. After the form has been completed, the clerk will read the form slowly to the person notifying the event and ask if it is correct.
4. The clerk will then make a copy of the form, sign it, seal it and hand it to the informant.
5. When a person reports a death, that person will be asked if the deceased was attended by a doctor, and, if so, the doctor's name and appointment. The answers to these questions shall be noted on the form.
6. When an inquest is ordered, or the Minister of Police notifies a Sub-Registrar that a prosecution is pending in which some person is accused of causing the death of the deceased, the death shall not be registered until the inquest or trial has been completed. The notifying form shall be filled in and retained until it can be registered.
7. Wherever the death of a person is registered and it appears to the Sub-Registrar that the deceased was not a Tongan subject, an extra copy of the death certificate shall be made and forwarded to the Central Registry with a letter stating the nationality the deceased is believed to have possessed when he or she died.

Registering overseas death

1. To register death of a Tongan that has occurred outside the Kingdom, informants will be asked to produce or send to the Central Registry the Official Death Certificate issued by the country in which the event occurred.
2. Informants will also need to file an affidavit stating:
   1. His relationship to or connection with the person the subject of the registration.
   2. His grounds for believing that person is or was a Tongan.
   3. That he believes the certificate produced to be genuine and its contents true.
3. Upon production of these documents the Sub-Registrar will record the event in a special register, unless he doubts the truth of the affidavit.

If you are outside Tonga

You may use the link provided under "Office Locations & Contacts" to get in touch with the nearest embassy or consulate of Tonga in the country you are currently staying. The Embassy's consular service section will be able to help process your request to register the death in Tonga.

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Required Documents

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e.g.
1. Proof of child birth from the Hospital.

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Justice
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE ('Ulu'i 'Ofisi)
Location: Corner Lavinia and Kausela Rd. Nuku'alofa, TONGA.
Mailing Address:P.O Box 130, Nuku'alofa, TONGA.
Ph: +676 25618
Officer in charge: CEO: Mele Ikatonga Vaitohi

VITAL STATISTICS OFFICE
(Ofisi o e ngaahi lekooti mahu'inga- Fale Tohita'u)
Location: Opposite Talamahu Market, Nuku'alofa, TONGA.
Ph: +676 23599
Fax: +676 22380
Officer in charge : Assistant Vital Statistics Officer, Mrs. Mele Kafo'atu Mafile'o

Tonga- Consulates/Embassies
check the bottom of the page for links to the embassies

Eligibility

Who must register the death (in order):

1. Head of the family(in order):
   1. Father
   2. Mother
   3. Grandfather
   4. Grandmother
2. Closest adult relative living on the same island of a person who dies and has no head of the family (in order):
   1. Son
   2. Daughter
   3. Brother
   4. Sister
   5. Grandson
   6. Granddaughter
   7. Father's brother
   8. Father's sister
   9. Mother's brother
   10. Mother's sister
   11. Brother's son
   12. Sister's son
   13. Brother's daughter
   14. Sister's daughter
3. The occupier of the premises in which the death occurred

Note:

• Except in the case of a hospital, the responsible person shall also inform the Town Officer of the town in which the death occurred and shall bring to his notice any unusual circumstances and in particular if the death was sudden.

Fees

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Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the national civil registry of all records pertaining to births, deaths and marriages.

Two main responsibilities of the National Civil Registry:

1. Registration of births, deaths and marriages
2. Issuance to all relevant persons certified true copies of births, death and marriage certificates.

Required Information

• Name of Deceased
• Where Death Occurred
• Date of Death
• Sex
• Age
• Clergyman (Officiating)
• Married or Single
• Number of children
• Number still Living
• Date of Registration
• Name of Father
• Name of Mother
• Cause of Death or Symptom
• Name of Doctor attending if any
• Name of person notifying death

Need for the Document

This procedure provides you information on how a death is registered in Tonga.

Information which might help

The islands are grouped by districts.

LULUNGA DISTRICT:

1. FOTUHAA
2. KOTU
3. HAAFEVA
4. MATUKU
5. TUNGUA
6. O UA
7. TOFUA

HAANO DISTRICT:

1. MO'UNGAONE

NOMUKA DISTRICT:

1. NOMUKA
2. MANGO
3. FONOIFUA

NIUAFOOU DISTRICT:

1. ESIA
2. KOLOFOOU
3. SAPAATA
4. FATAULUA
5. MATAAHO
6. MUA
7. TONGAMAMAO
8. PETANI

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act
Ministry of Justice

Others

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