Certificate of a lifeless child

Under certain conditions, you can request a copy of or an extract from the certificate of a lifeless child.

• A copy contains the original data of the certificate and the history of the status of the person to whom the certificate relates.
• An extract, on the contrary, only states the current details of the certificate, without stating the history of the status of the person to whom the certificate relates. Therefore, an extract only shows the current status of the data.

Who can request a copy or an extract?

For certificates of a lifeless child, the right to receive a copy or an extract is limited to

• the persons to whom the certificate relates (mother, father, co-mother),
• the spouse, the surviving spouse or legal cohabitant,
• the legal representative (e.g. parent, guardian, conservator),
• blood relatives in the ascending or descending line (no relatives by affinity and side branches),
• heirs,
• and special agents such as notaries or lawyers.

If the certificate is more than 100 years old, anyone is entitled to receive a copy or an extract.

The certificate of a lifeless child states

• the date, place and time of birth, the sex of the child,
• and the first names of the child and, if so requested,
• the last name, first names, and date and place of birth of the mother,

• as well as the last name, first names, and date and place of birth of the father or co-mother who is married to the mother or who has given prenatal recognition, or, at their request and with the consent of the mother, the last name and first names of the father or co-mother who is neither married to the mother nor has recognised the child.

You can request an extract from or a copy of the certificate of a lifeless child from the municipality in which. the certificate was recorded in the registers of the register office.

If you have an electronic identity card (eID), you can request a copy of or an extract from the certificate online

• via the e-desk of your municipality
• or via the certificates page of ‘My Citizen Profile’ (‘Mijn Burgerprofiel’).

Since 31 March 2019, certificates from the register office are registered digitally only. If your certificate dates from before 31 March 2019, it may not yet be available in digital form. Some municipalities digitise old archives when copies of or extracts from the certificates are requested or changes are made.

If you collect the document yourself:

• your own identity card or residence permit.

If you are requesting the document for someone else:

• a power of attorney from that person and a copy of their identity card

• as well as your own identity card.