Registering the death
Registering a death
In most cases you will need to register the death within five days in the district in which the death occurred. This can help avoid delays getting the necessary documents. If the coroner is involved you will be advised when to register the death.
We can advise you on the procedure for registering a death. Below is a guide that can help, but please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Full details , including Covid-19 updates can be found here:
Who can register the death
The following people can register a death:
- Any relative of the person who has died
- Any person present at the death
- A person who lives in the house where the person died
- The person arranging the funeral (this cannot be a funeral director)
What you need to register a death
A simple interview with the registrar to register the death is carried out at the Register Office. You should take with you the medical certificate issued by the doctor showing the cause of death and the deceased’s medical card.
You will also require the following information about the deceased:
- Full name
- Home address
- Marital status
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Occupation (if any)
- Maiden name (if female and married)
- Spouse’s name
- Spouse’s date of birth
- Spouse’s occupation
The registrar will issue you with:
- A Certificate of Registration of Death, which you should fill in and send to the social security office for the area where the person died.
- A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (known as a green form), which you should give to your funeral director as soon as possible.
- Certified copies of the entry of death can also be issued by The Registrar, you will need these for official purposes such as insurers, closing bank accounts and pension schemes etc.
Special copies are issued for Friendly Societies.
‘Tell Us Once’ free service
Following the death registration, the registrar is able to offer the ‘Tell Us Once’ service; this free service notifies both central and local government agencies on behalf of the informant/family. ‘Tell Us Once’ can notify services such as State Pension and other related benefits, HM Revenue and Customs, Identity and Passport Service, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Council Tax, Electoral Services, Libraries, Blue Badge etc. To make best use of this service, please bring any associated documents to the registration.
First steps
Caring for the deceased
Registering the death
Telling others
“Robin and all the team at Geoff Leather were so kind and reassuring.”
Jane – Ryde