Births, deaths and marriages

Apply for birth, death or marriage certificate

This page has information on how to apply for a birth, death, or marriage certificate in the Northern Territory.

Apply online

Before you apply online

When you apply online, you must supply all of the following:

your credit card details - check the fee
your email address
your phone number
scans or photographs of current identification documents.

How you will receive your certificate

You can:

collect your certificate from Darwin or Alice Springs Births, Deaths and Marriages office - you must provide identification documents
have your certificate mailed using person-to-person registered mail and collect it from an Australia Post branch - you must show identification on collection.

When you will receive your certificate

If you apply in person, you will receive your certificate immediately.

Your application will take at least 3 days from when the Births, Deaths and Marriages office receives your application if you apply:

online
by mail
by fax.

This does not include postage time. You must allow time for this.

If you need your certificate urgently, contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages office.

Special birth certificates

You can order a special birth certificate with pictures and colours, known as a commemorative certificate.

Commemorative certificates cannot be used for official purposes.

You can choose to buy a commemorative certificate on its own, or as a package which includes a standard birth certificate.

To order a special birth certificate, follow these steps:

Step 1. Apply online or fill in the commemorative certificate form.

Commemorative certificate form PDF (277.2 KB)
Commemorative certificate form DOCX (581.1 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application to a Births, Deaths and Marriages office by mail, fax or in person.

Step 3. Pay the fee.

You can choose from these themes:

Theme	Example
Abstract
Blue bunny
Clowns
Ducks
Indigenous
Pink bunny
Scenery
Wildlife

Early pregnancy loss certificates

If your baby is born before 20 weeks or weighs less than 400g, you can apply for an early pregnancy loss commemorative certificate. This certificate can't be used for official purposes.

There is also no fee. To get this certificate, follow these steps:

Step 1. Provide a letter from a medical professional confirming the delivery details.

Step 2. Fill in the early pregnancy loss commemorative certificate application.

Early pregnancy loss commemorative certificate application PDF (437.1 KB)
Early pregnancy loss commemorative certificate application DOCX (60.4 KB)

Step 3. Submit your application and letter in person or by mail to a Births, Deaths and Marriages office.

Other ways to apply

If you don't apply online, you can fill in the births, deaths and marriages certificate application and submit it with your identification documents:

in person
by mail
by fax.

Births, deaths and marriages certificate application PDF (172.1 KB)
Births, deaths and marriages certificate application DOCX (65.2 KB)

In person

To apply in person, submit your application and identification documents to a Births, Deaths and Marriages office in Darwin or Alice Springs from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

You can also apply in person at the Katherine Court House and the Tennant Creek Court House.

By mail

To apply by mail, follow these steps:

Step 1. Take your original identification documents to a Justice of the Peace and Commissioner for Oaths or other qualified person to get copies certified.

Step 2. Submit your application by mail to a Births, Deaths and Marriages office with:

your certified identification documents
payment for the fee - you can pay by cheque, money order or fill in the credit card section on your application.

By fax

To apply by fax, follow these steps:

Step 1. Take your original identification documents to a Justice of the Peace and Commissioner for Oaths or other qualified person to get the copies certified.

Step 2. Pay the fee by credit card only - you must complete the credit card section on your application.

Step 3. Submit your application with your certified identification documents by fax to:

08 8999 6324 - Darwin
08 8951 5340 - Alice Springs.

Births, Deaths and Marriages office contacts

Contact Births, Deaths and Marriages by emailing agd.registrargeneral@nt.gov.au.

You can also contact individual offices using the details below.

Services offered at the different locations may vary.

Office	Location	Mail address	Opening hours	Phone and fax
Darwin	Ground Floor, Nichols Place Corner of Cavenagh and Bennett Streets Darwin NT 0800	GPO Box 3021 Darwin NT 0801	Mon to Fri - 8am to 4pm	P: 08 8999 6119 F: 08 8999 6324
Palmerston	Palmerston Community Care Centre Corner of Temple Terrace and Roystonea Avenue Palmerston City NT 0830	No service	Fri only - 8am to noon	P: 08 8999 6119
Katherine	Katherine Courthouse 11 First Street Katherine NT 0850	No service	Mon to Fri - 8:45am to 4pm	P: 08 8979 8956
Tennant Creek	Tennant Creek Courthouse 53 Paterson Street Tennant Creek NT 0860	No service	Mon to Fri - 8:30am to 1pm and 2pm to 3:40pm	P: 08 8962 4377
Alice Springs	Centrepoint Building Corner of Gregory Terrace and Hartley Street Alice Springs NT 0870	PO Box 8043 Alice Springs NT 0871	Mon to Fri - 8am to 4pm	P: 08 8951 5339 F: 08 8951 5340

Births, Deaths and Marriages office fees

Applications	Fee
Birth certificate	$52
Commemorative birth certificate	$52
Commemorative package	$80
Death certificate	$52
Marriage certificate	$52
Change of name certificate	$52
Priority fee	$52

Marriage	Fee
Lodgement of marriage notice (non-refundable)	$150
Ceremony	$250
Total marriage fee	$400
No record result	$52
Letter of no impediment	$52
Certified copy of notice of intended marriage	$52

Searches	Fee
Search of a register (no certificate issued)	$45

Miscellaneous	Fee
Total change of name fee	$104
Change of sex or gender	$52
Amendment fee	$52
International registered mail	$20
Registered person to person mail	$13.30
Laminating A4	$3.30
Laminating A3	$6.05
Certificate fax (passport office only)	$5.50

Changes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996

From 31 August 2022, changing your name in the Northern Territory (NT) will be different.

This is part of changes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996.

What these changes mean

To change your name in the NT, you must be born here.

If you were born interstate, contact that state or territory.

If you were born outside Australia, you must be a resident in the NT for at least 12 consecutive months.

You can only change your name:

once in a 12-month period in the NT
up to 3 times in your lifetime.

If you need to change your name more times than listed above, the registrar will review your request.

The registrar may approve your name change if it's:

to protect you and your children from domestic violence as defined in section 5 of the Domestic and Family Violence Act 2007
because of marriage or divorce
ordered by a court or tribunal.

More information

For more information, read the Act and the change of name policy.

Change of name policy PDF (312.2 KB)
Change of name policy DOCX (652.0 KB)

If you have any questions about these new changes, contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages office by calling 08 8999 6090 or emailing agd.registrargeneral@nt.gov.au.

Divorce and separation

You should get legal advice when ending a marriage or de facto relationship.

Divorce and separation is dealt with by the Family Court of Australia.

To find out more about divorce, what happens when de facto relationships end and how to apply for a divorce, go to the Family Court of Australia website.

Contact

Family Court - Darwin Supreme Court building
5 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800

GPO Box 9991
Darwin NT 0801

Fax: 08 8981 6081

Identification documents for birth, death or marriage certificates

You need to prove your identity when you apply for a birth, death, or marriage certificate in the Northern Territory (NT).

You will also need to submit identification documents for anyone else you are applying for.

Apply online

You will need to upload scanned or photographed images of your identification documents.

At least one of your documents must be a current:

Australian passport
Australian driver's licence
Centrelink concession card.

Apply in person, by fax or by mail

To prove your identification, you will need either:

one piece of identification from the primary source list below
or two pieces of identification from the secondary source list below.

If you apply by fax or mail, you must get copies of your identity documents certified by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Oaths.

Primary sources

current NT driver licence with photo
current Australian passport
current document of identity issued by the Australian Passport Office
current Defence Force or police service photo ID card
current Ochre Card.

Secondary sources

If you don’t have identification documents from the primary source list, at least two other forms of ID must be produced, with at least one from List 1.

List 1

NT proof of age card from Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR)
current overseas passport with current entry permit
naturalisation, citizenship, or immigration papers issued by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
current consular photo identity card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
current student photo identity card
current photo driver licence from another state or territory
Australian passport or document of identity expired within the last two years
baptismal certificate
letter of identity from an Aboriginal community or other recognised cultural group
NT security identification.

List 2

current Medicare card
current entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth Government (for example, pension card)
current credit card, account card, passbook or bank account statement
current telephone bill, electricity and water rates, or council rates account with evidence of payment
identity cards issued by either Larrakia or Tangentyere
current life, house or contents insurance policy with evidence of payment
current student identity card or statement of enrolment
current apprenticeship or traineeship papers
current vehicle registration papers
evidence of change of name
registered mortgage papers, title or deeds to real estate
Defence Force discharge papers issued within the last two years
electoral enrolment card issued within the last two years
school or other educational report less than 12 months old
taxation assessment notice from the last year
expired driver’s licence within the last two years
other forms of identification may be accepted at the discretion of registry staff.

Applying on behalf of someone else

Parents do not have the automatic right to access their child’s birth records if their child is over 18 years old.

If you are applying for a birth certificate for your child who is over 18 years old, you will need their permission to access the birth records.

If you are applying on behalf of someone else who is over 18 years old, you must provide:

your own identification documents
the person's identification documents
a letter giving permission for you to obtain the certificate from the person named on it
the person’s address, telephone number and signature.

Make a will

This page has information for people who need to write or update their will.

What is a will

A will is a legal document that comes into effect when you die. It says what you would like to happen to your property, money, and belongings. This is known as your estate.

A will names the people you want to give your estate to, also known as beneficiaries.

It also names the person you would want to be in charge of your estate. This person is known as your executor. You should also appoint a back-up executor.

To be valid, a will must be both:

in writing, either handwritten or typed
dated and signed in front of two, preferably independent, witnesses who are not beneficiaries.

Why you need a will

Making a will is the only way to make sure your money, property and personal belongings go to the people who you want to receive them.

A will can also:

name guardians of your children or other dependants
establish a trust to provide for your children and other dependants
donate money to charity
outline specific funeral instructions.

If you die without a will

If you die without a valid will, this is known as dying intestate.

Your estate will be divided up according to a formula under the law. It is not decided by the administrator of an estate.

This can mean:

the people you would like to have your belongings and money may not receive them
your family and friends may not be provided for financially
it may take more time and money to distribute your money and belongings.

How to make a will

To make a will, you must be 18 years or older and of sound mind.

You can do one of the following:

ask a solicitor to prepare a will for you
buy a do-it-yourself kit, available from an Australia Post Office or some news agencies - you should carefully read and follow all instructions in the kit
make a will with the Public Trustee - this is only available to some people - see below.

You may wish to seek legal advice before you draft your own will.

If your will does not meet all the legal requirements, or is not clear, your executor may need to employ a lawyer to have the will interpreted by a court.

This may result in extra costs and delays to your estate.

The Public Trustee

The Public Trustee can prepare and update wills for certain people, including all of the following:

existing clients who have already made a will with the Public Trustee
people wanting to name the Public Trustee as their executor
pension concession holders.

Find out about will and estate management fees with the Public Trustee.

To make an appointment you should:

contact the Public Trustee - call (08) 8999 7271
complete the will instruction form DOCX (64.9 KB) and bring it with you to the appointment.

What happens to your debts

Your estate will be responsible for paying your debts. Your beneficiaries will only inherit what is left after all debts are paid out.

If your estate cannot pay all of your debts in full, the money will be shared on a pro-rata basis between your debts.

Jointly owned assets

Jointly owned assets, such as a house or bank account, will transfer to the surviving owner. It will become a part of his or her estate when they die.

Updating your will

You can update your will as often as you wish. You should check it every few years to ensure it reflects your circumstances.

You may need to change your will if any of the following apply:

you buy property or other major assets
you sell property or other major assets you mention in your will
you get married, divorced or separated
your partner or spouse dies
you start a new relationship
beneficiaries named in your will die
you arrange your superannuation fund to pay your superannuation into your estate.

Storing your will

You can store your will for free at the Public Trustee office in a specially maintained vault.

Your bank or solicitor can also store your will for a fee.

Popular baby names

This page has a record of the most popular baby names registered in the Northern Territory (NT), organised by year.

For further information, email agd.registrargeneral@nt.gov.au.

Cemeteries in the Northern Territory

There are 15 declared cemeteries that are recognised under the Burials and Cremation Act 2022.

These cemeteries are managed by local government councils and other organisations.

Choose the region from the list below.

Greater Darwin

In the Darwin region, there are 4 cemeteries including:

Darwin General Cemetery
Gardens Road Cemetery
Pioneer (Palmerston) Cemetery
Thorak Regional Cemetery.

Darwin General, Gardens Road and Pioneer cemeteries

The City of Darwin manages the Darwin General, Gardens Road and Pioneer cemeteries.

For more information, call 08 8930 0300 or go to the Darwin City Council website.

Thorak Regional Cemetery

The Litchfield Council is responsible for the Thorak Regional Cemetery.

For more information, call 08 8947 0903 or go to the Litchfield Council website.

Top End

In the Top End region, there are 4 cemeteries including:

Coomalie Bush Cemetery
Elsey Memorial Cemetery
Pine Creek Public Cemetery
Timber Creek Public Cemetery.

Coomalie Bush Cemetery

The Coomalie Bush Cemetery is managed by the Coomalie Community Government Council

For more information, call 08 8976 0058 or go to the Coomalie Community Government Council website.

Elsey Memorial Cemetery

The Roper Gulf Regional Council is responsible for the Elsey Memorial Cemetery.

For more information, call 08 8944 7020 or go to the Roper Gulf Regional Council website.

Pine Creek Public Cemetery

The Victoria Daly Regional Council is responsible for the Pine Creek Public Cemetery.

For more information, call 08 8972 0777 or go to the Victoria Daly Regional Council website.

Timber Creek Public Cemetery

The Victoria Daly Regional Council is responsible for the Timber Creek Public Cemetery.

For more information, call 08 8972 0777 or go to the Victoria Daly Regional Council website.

East Arnhem

In the East Arnhem region, there is the Nhulunbuy Public Cemetery.

It is managed by the Nhulunbuy Corporation.

For more information, call 08 8939 2200 or go to the Nhulunbuy Corporation website.

Big Rivers

In the Big Rivers region, there is the Katherine Memorial Cemetery.

It is managed by the Katherine Town Council.

For more information, call 08 8972 5500 or go to the Katherine Town Council website.

Barkly

In the Barkly region, there are 2 cemeteries including:

Tennant Creek Public Cemetery
Elliott Public Cemetery.

They are managed by the Barkly Regional Council.

For more information, call 08 8962 0000 or go to the Barkly Regional Council website.

Central Australia

In Centralia Australia, there are 3 cemeteries including:

Alice Springs Garden Cemetery
Alice Springs General (Memorial) Cemetery
Stuart Town Memorial Cemetery.

They are managed by the Alice Springs Town Council.

For more information, call 08 8950 0534 or go to the Alice Springs Town Council website.

Register a birth

You must register the birth of a child (including stillbirth) within 60 days from the date of birth.

Registering the birth of your child is free.

You can complete a form or submit a registration online.

You are not automatically issued a birth certificate when you register the birth of a child. You will need to make a separate application for a birth certificate. If a baby is not registered, a birth certificate cannot be issued.

Online birth registration

You can complete an online birth registration statement.

If both parents are to be on the birth certificate, you will need to upload identity documents for each parent, such as:

driver’s licence
passport
Medicare card

You will also need to provide information about the:

date and place of birth
birth weight
mother’s full details
father’s or co-parent’s full details
marriage details of parents
details of previous children.

Completing a written birth registration statement

When the baby is born, health professionals will give you a birth registration statement and a reply-paid envelope.

The information you will need to provide on the statement include:

baby’s name
sex of the baby
whether the baby is a multiple birth
date and place of birth
parent's details and previous children details
a postal address
your signature witnessed by a person over 18 years old.

You need to be as accurate as possible on the birth registration statement.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. The mistake must be initialled by all people completing the form.

Use the reply-paid envelope or you can deliver it in person to the Births, Deaths, and Marriages office.

Registration by one or neither parents

One parent registration

One parent may register the birth but you must write a letter with your documents explaining the reason. A valid reason is if it’s impossible, impractical or inappropriate for the other parent to join in the registration.

Neither parent registration

If both parents are unable to sign the birth registration, then the person who has custody of the child is responsible for the registration.

Registering a birth by same-sex parents

You will need to complete the birth registration statement for same sex parents.

You must include:

the baby’s name
sex of the baby
whether the baby is a multiple birth
date and place of birth
parent's details and previous children details
preferred title for both parents on the certificate
a postal address
your signature witnessed by a person over 18 years old.

You need to be as accurate as possible on the birth registration statement.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. The mistake must be initialled by all people completing the form.

Register a change of sex or gender on a birth certificate

If you have changed your sex or gender, you can register your new identity on your birth certificate.

In this context, sex refers to a person's biological sex. Gender is part of a person's social and personal identity, the way they present and are recognised in the community.

Your new birth certificate

When you register a change of sex or gender, a birth certificate will be issued showing this.

The new birth certificate will not make any reference to the fact a change has occurred unless you request it.

The old birth certificate must be returned to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office. You can request to have the old birth certificate returned to you. It will be cancelled and stamped. You will no longer be able to use it for official legal purposes.

It is an offence to produce a birth certificate that shows your previous sex or gender.

You may also want to change your name as part of this process. Read more about legally changing your name.

Who can apply

To register a change of sex or gender for an adult, you must be all of the following:

born in the Northern Territory (NT)
over 18 years old
be an intersex person* or
have received appropriate clinical treatment related to your sex or gender such as:
- surgery
- hormone therapy
- counselling.

*An intersex person is someone born with physical sex characteristics that don't fit typical definitions of male and female bodies. To find out more, read section 28A of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Act.

What you can register to be

When you apply to change your sex or gender, you can choose one of the following registration options:

male
female
non-binary
unspecified.

How to apply

You will need to submit all of the following to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office by mail or in person:

completed register change of sex or gender of adult application

your evidence documents
proof of identification documents
existing birth certificate
payment for the change of sex or gender fee - check the fee.

Evidence you need to provide

You will need to provide evidence in support of your application. This can either be:

a statement by a medical practitioner or psychologist registered in Australia certifying that you:
- have received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to your sex or gender or
- are an intersex person
a recognition certificate issued under any law certifying that a person has a sex or gender that is different to the sex or gender specified for that person in the register.

How to register a change of sex or gender for a child

The parents of a child (or in certain cases, one parent or a legal guardian) may apply to register a change of sex or gender of the child.

To register a change of sex or gender for a child, the child must:

have been born in the Northern Territory (NT) and
be under 18 years old.

You must believe on reasonable grounds that changing the record or your child's sex or gender is in the child's best interests.

For a change of sex or gender to be registered, the child must also:

be an intersex person or
have received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to their sex or gender identity such as:
- surgery
- hormone therapy
- counselling.

The child must also provide consent to the change if they are aware of the meaning and implication of the change.

Generally, a child aged 14 years or over is assumed to be aware of the meaning and implication of the change.

The same registration options for sex or gender are available as with adults.

Who can apply

Both parents

If both parents are named on the birth certificate, both parents must apply.

One parent

One parent can apply to change a child's sex or gender if any of the following apply:

only one parent is named on the child's birth certificate
the other parent of the child is deceased and no other person has legal responsibility for the child.

Legal guardians

Guardians can make an application if one or both parents are:

deceased
cannot be found
cannot exercise their parental responsibility.

If you're applying as a guardian, you must supply either a court order or proof of guardianship.

How to apply

You will need to submit all of the following to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office by mail or in person:

completed change of sex or gender of a child application
Change of sex of a child application DOCX (221.8 KB)
Change of sex of a child application PDF (232.5 KB)
evidence documents for the child
proof of identification documents for the child
the child’s existing birth certificate
payment for the change of sex or gender fee - check the fee.

Evidence you need to provide

You will need to provide evidence in support of your application. This can either be:

a statement by a medical practitioner or psychologist registered in Australia certifying that your child:
- has received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to their sex or gender or
- is an intersex person
a recognition certificate that is issued under any law certifying that a person has a sex or gender that is different to the sex or gender specified for that person in the register

consent of the child (if the child is 14 years or older).

Register a death

All deaths in the Northern Territory (NT) must be registered within seven working days after the burial or cremation.

A death registration statement is usually completed by one of the following:

the funeral director
the person who arranges for the disposal of the remains
a local health worker.

There is no fee to register a death.

You will need to make a separate application for a death certificate as they are not automatically issued.

If you are registering a death

If you are registering a death, you will need to collect the death registration form from a Births, Deaths and Marriages office, your funeral director or remote health centre.

You will need to provide all of the following information:

the full name of the deceased, including any alias names
sex of the deceased
date and place of birth
date and place of death
details of the parents and any marriages, de facto relationships and children
the last residential address of the deceased
if the death was reported to a coroner
the date and place of the burial or cremation including the name of the funeral director.

You should be as accurate as possible with the information. Do not use white-out on the death registration statement. Cross out and initial any amendments.

The original death registration statement must be submitted to the Darwin or Alice Springs Births, Deaths and Marriages office either:

in person
or by mail.

Search births, deaths and marriages records

You can't search other people's birth, death, marriage and change of name records due to privacy laws.

The only records that are open to the public are historical records.

If you want to search the records you must meet the requirements of the access policy.

Who can search current records

To search births, deaths and marriages records you must be one of the following:

the person named on the birth, marriage or change of name record
an immediate family member named on the death certificate, such as a spouse, parent or child
a parent, grandparent or guardian of a child over 18 years old who wishes to apply for a birth certificate and who has given written permission.

You can also search the records if you have been given approval by the Registrar - eg: government departments needing information.

How to search current records

To request a search, you must:

contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages office to request the search
provide identification documents
pay for the search - check the fee.

You can be given information on:

registration details
the person’s name
the date and place of birth, marriage or death.

Other details may be available.

How to search historical records

You can access any of the following records:

births that happened over 100 years ago
deaths that happened over 30 years ago
marriages that happened over 75 years ago
changes of name that happened over 100 years ago

To request a search, you must:

contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages office to arrange the search
provide identification documents
pay for the search - check the fee.

Full access policy

You can request a full copy of the access policy from the Births, Deaths and Marriages office in Darwin or Alice Springs.

Will and estate management fees

Will making	Fee
Simple will - naming Public Trustee as executor	$138.60
Complex will	$346.50
Concession holder	$27.50
Change to existing will prepared by Public Trustee in last 10 years	$69.30

Estate management	Fee
Tiered commission rate charged on the total value of estate assets
$0 to $200,000	4.4%
$200,001 to $400,000	3.3%
$400,001 to $600,000	2.2%
Greater than $600,000	1.1%
Minimum charge for administration of a deceased estate	$694.10

Trust management	Fee
Capital with defined maturity date	1.1%
Capital with undefined maturity date	2.2%
Income	6.6%

Storage - personal effects	Fee
Inspecting, reporting on and collecting personal property from estate of deceased person	$209.00
Storage - per month per cubic metre or part	$9.90

Miscellaneous	Fee
Rent collected by Public Trustee	3.3%
Locate next-of-kin, beneficiaries or owner of unclaimed property	$694.10 or 5.5%, whichever is greater
Transfer asset to surviving joint tenant
Asset value less than $5,000	$138.60
Asset value more than $5,000	$227.20

Note: all fees are GST inclusive

Exhumations

New Act

On 28 November 2022 burial and cremations laws changed.

Find out more about the changes.

An exhumation is removing the remains of a deceased person from a burial site after a burial or interment has taken place.

The decision maker can decide to exhume a deceased person from a burial site so they can be:

reburied
cremated
relocated.

Read the Burial and Cremation Act 2022.

Exhumations can also happen under other legislation, such as the Coroners Act 1993.

Declared infectious diseases

You must consult with the Chief Health Officer's office before arranging an exhumation if the:

deceased person suffered from a declared infectious disease PDF (144.3 KB) before death
exhumation is taking place within 6 months from the date of burial.

You can call 08 8999 2400 or email chiefhealthofficer.doh@nt.gov.au.

Exhumation from a cemetery

To arrange an exhumation from a cemetery, you must make an application by following these steps.

Step 1. Discuss and confirm in writing the proposed plan for the exhumation, transportation and relocation of the human remains with a funeral director and relevant cemetery manager.

Step 2. Fill in the form.

Exhumation form PDF (150.5 KB)
Exhumation form DOCX (74.1 KB)

Step 3. Email the form to burials@nt.gov.au.

Once the application is received, it will be considered. A proposed exhumation can only proceed if the application is approved.

Check the locations and contact details for cemeteries in the Northern Territory.

Exhumation from outside a cemetery

You will need to notify the department if you are exhuming a deceased person from a location outside a cemetery.

How to notify

You can notify online or by email.

Online

Go to Territory Services

Email

To notify by email, fill in and submit the below form with attachments to burials@nt.gov.au.

Exhumation notification form PDF (181.7 KB)
Exhumation notification form DOCX (74.8 KB)

If some details are culturally sensitive, you don’t need to provide those details.

Once the notification is received, your information will be verified to make sure it's correct and complete.

Contacts

Office locations	Contact details
Legislation and Policy, Local Government Unit, Darwin	P: 08 8995 5107 E: burials@nt.gov.au
Arnhem Regional Office, Nhulunbuy	P: 08 8987 0536
Barkly Regional Office, Tennant Creek	P: 08 8962 4434
Big Rivers Regional Office, Katherine	P: 08 8973 8518
Central Australia Regional Office, Alice Springs	P: 08 8951 5781
Top End Office, Darwin	P: 08 8999 5430