Nothing is free in life ... apart now from a Venezuelan death certificate!

Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) has adopted a resolution to provide free administration procedures for issuing death certificates as well as the registration and issuance of certified copies of documents held in the nation's Civil Registry. The resolution, published today, was contained in resolution No. 080528-551, approved last Wednesday, May 28. in election guidelines and is based on Article 521 of the Venezuelan Civil Code which excludes all vital records, collection of taxes, fees, special contributions, emolument, as well as the use of revenue stamps or stamped paper to facilitate the processing of documents that contribute to an audit of citizens on the Electoral Register, including the death certificates, with which next of kin may seek the exclusion of the deceased from the electoral roll. The CNE has urged the local mayors to comply with free registration since the municipalities are obliged to respect and enforce all regulations as the leading civil authority in such matters.