When a death occurs, the deceased’s family must obtain a Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD). With the CCOD, the family may register the death. Death registration must be done within 24 hours of the death.

Upon registration of the death, the CCOD will be retained by the death registration centre, and a Death Certificate will be given to the family. A Death Certificate is required to place an obituary in the newspapers, engage a funeral director, and to make arrangements for cremation or burial.

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​There are numerous details for one to take note when preparing a funeral. Having a professional funeral director to assist in preparing the event will help reduce the stress one feels while going through the grief of losing their loved one.
The whole funeral arrangement can be broken down into 4 phases:

 

A. WHEN DEATH OCCURS:
1. Enquiry:

• Call your Nirvana’s agent or

• Provision of professional advice/guidance

2. Death Registration:
Required documents

• Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD) issued be doctor

• NRIC of Beloved

• NRIC of Informant

3. Transfer of beloved to our Care Centre:
Transfer from

• Hospital

• Nursing Home/Hospice

• Home

 

Preparation by family

• 1 set of clothing with footwear for dressing

• Photo of enlargement

• Denture (if any)

4. Consultation:

• Gathering of information

• Understanding the needs and wants of the family

• Address any concerns

• Recommendation of suitable services

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B. PREPARATION FOR WAKE:
1. Preparation of beloved in our Care Centre:

• Cleansing

• Embalming

• Dressing

• Make-up services

• Facial reconstruction (if necessary)

 

2. Wake venue set-up:

• Void Deck

• Funeral Parlour

• Private Housing

• Multi-Purpose Hall

3. Wake:
Transferring of beloved to the wake venue

• Gathering of family members

• Ceremony

• Commencement of religious rites

Wake

• Hold vigil during wake duration by family members

• Visitation by friends and relatives

• Receiving of condolences wreaths, blankets, or monies

• Serving of buffet or on-site cooking (optional)

• Religious rites (optional)

• Service team (optional)

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C. FUNERAL DAY:
1. Funeral Day:

• Last funeral rites/memorial service

• End of funeral ceremony

• Funeral procession

• Cortege depart for burial grounds/crematorium

 

2. Cremation/Burial:

• Arrival at the crematorium/burial plot

• Commencement of rites/eulogy

• Final send-off

 

D. POST-FUNERAL:
1. Ash Collection:

• Arrival at ash collection venue

• Collection of ashes

• Placing ashes in urn

 

2. Ji Ling/An Ling (If applicable):

• 49/100 Days Prayer depending on religious rite

• Return to wake location
   

3. Columbarium/Temple:

• Store ashes in niches

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For professional guidance please contact your Nirvana’s agent. 

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DEATH REGISTRATION

A. WHEN TO REGISTER?
The law requires all deaths (regardless of citizenship) occurring in Singapore
to be registered within 24 hours of occurrence.

B. Documents Required

• Certificate of Cause of Death issued by doctors or Authorised Officers (i.e.Forensic Death Investigators) from the Ministry of Health

• Deceased’s identification documents (e.g. IC & Passport) for cancellation

• Informant’s identification documents (e.g. IC or Passport)

 

C. Fees

• Free of charge.

 

D. Processing Time

• 45 minutes at Neighbourhood Police Centres/Posts

• 30 minutes at Citizen Services Centre, ICA Building

 

E. Procedure
To register a death:

• The informant must produce the Certificate of Cause of Death and other supporting documents (e.g. the deceased’s NRIC, passport or citizenship certificate).

• After documents produced are verified, the Registration Officer will print the Death Certificate.

• The informant must verify the particulars on the Death Certificate and sign the Death Certificate.

• The Death Certificate is issued.