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Registering a death

You normally need to register a person's death within five days. Once you've done so, you'll be given a death certificate. Different time limits apply in the case of stillbirth. Registration may also be delayed if it is referred to a coroner.

Who can register a death

If the person died in a house or hospital, the death can be registered by:

  • a relative
  • someone present at the death
  • an occupant of the house/official from the hospital
  • the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

Deaths that occurred anywhere else can be registered by:

  • a relative
  • someone present at the death
  • the person who found the body
  • the person in charge of the body
  • the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

Most deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. The registrar would normally only allow one of the other people listed above to do so if there are no relatives available.

When and where to register a death

In England and Wales you normally need to register the death within five days. To avoid delays, it's best to go to the register office in the area in which the person died. You can choose another register office, but it may take longer to get the necessary documents and this could delay the funeral arrangements.

Registering the death will take about half an hour; you may need to make an appointment beforehand. You'll find contact details for local register offices in the local area phone book, or you can search online below.

Stillbirth

A stillbirth normally needs to be registered within 42 days, and at latest within three months. In many cases this can be done either at the hospital or at the local register office.

You can also get advice for parents who have experienced a stillbirth in our parents section.

Documents and information you will need

Documents

When registering a death, you'll need to take the following:

  • medical certificate of the cause of death (signed by a doctor)

And if available:

  • birth certificate
  • marriage/civil partnership certificates
  • NHS Medical Card

Information

You will need to tell the registrar:

  • the deceased's full names at death
  • any names previously used, including maiden surname
  • the deceased's date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK and country if born abroad
  • their last address                      
  • their occupation
  • the full name, occupation and date of birth of a surviving spouse or civil partner
  • whether the deceased was receiving a state pension or any other state benefits

Documents you will receive

If a post-mortem is not being held, the registrar will issue you with:

  • a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (called the 'green form'), giving permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made (if the body is to be cremated, the GP or hospital will arrange for a second doctor to sign the cremation certificate)
  • a Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8); issued for social security purposes if the deceased received a State pension or benefits (read the information on the back and complete and return it if it applies)

You will be able to buy one or more Death Certificates at this time. These will be needed by the executor or administrator when sorting out the deceased person's affairs.

If a post-mortem is needed, the coroner will issue any necessary documents as quickly as possible afterwards.

The registrar will also give you a booklet called 'What to do after a death', offering advice on probate and other administrative issues that will need to be sorted out around this time; you can also download a copy below.

If the death is referred to a coroner

In a small number of cases - where the cause of death is unclear, sudden or suspicious - the doctor or hospital or registrar will report the death to the coroner. In this case registration of the death will be delayed.

Other things that need doing

At this time it's also important to:

  • make sure everyone who needs to know is told
  • arrange to see the deceased's solicitor and read the will as soon as possible; this will tell you if there are any special funeral requests and who the executors are
  • start arranging the funeral
  • collect all the information and documents you will need

For more detail read our related  articles below.

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