Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Amend how details, relationships and surnames are listed on Death Certificates.
Closed
40 signatures
What the petition asks
Add a box to the Death Certificate for the last person who had a formalised union with the deceased during their lifetime, thus ensuring Box 6 'Occupation & usual address' will only list such.
Alter the title of Box 4 from 'Maiden surname of woman who has married' to 'Surname change of the deceased'.
The legal recognition of a romantic union between two people shouldn't be classed as an occupation and inequality between the sexes shouldn't be part of our culture but entries on the current Death Certificate suggest otherwise. The last document relevant to the life of the deceased should separate their professional life from their personal life and the document itself shouldn't be sexist. Being aligned with another in one's lifetime isn't a 'job' and males sometimes change their surnames too.
The legal recognition of a romantic union between two people shouldn't be classed as an occupation and inequality between the sexes shouldn't be part of our culture but entries on the current Death Certificate suggest otherwise. The last document relevant to the life of the deceased should separate their professional life from their personal life and the document itself shouldn't be sexist. Being aligned with another in one's lifetime isn't a 'job' and males sometimes change their surnames too.
Timeline
| 29 Jul 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 29 Jan 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
40
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
29 Jul 2021
Closed
29 Jan 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.