How to register a death

Registering the death is an important part of what to do when someone dies; it's the formal record of death and it's a criminal offence not to register a death. In England and Wales, a death must normally be registered within five days whilst in Scotland, the death must be registered within eight days.

After a medical certificate has been issued and the body taken to where it will remain until the funeral, the next step is to make an appointment with your local Registers office or Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In certain areas, registration may also be completed online, by telephone or by email.

You can search for your nearest Register office in England and Wales on the Government website.

There's a list of Registrars in Scotland (PDF file) available on the website of the National Records of Scotland.

A list of Registration offices in Northern Ireland is available on the NI Direct website.

Who should register a death?

Deaths are usually registered by close family - a spouse, child, parent or sibling. If it's not possible for immediate family to register the death then any relative, including an in-law, would also be able to carry out the registration.

A death can also be registered by someone who attended the death or is in a position of responsibility in the building where the death occurred. The deceased's legal representative or executor can also register the death.

To register a death, you must have a medical certificate stating the cause of death along with the following information:

• Full name (Including maiden name or any previous names if applicable)

• Place and date of birth

• Place and date of death

• Last address

• Occupation

• Full name, date of birth and occupation of their spouse (If applicable).

Although you can still register a death without them, having the following documents will help make the registration process easier:

• Proof of address

• The deceased's birth and marriage certificate

• The deceased's NHS medical card

• Documents relating to State Pension or benefits.

What documents will you receive?

Once you've registered the death, you'll be given two certificates, both will be required before you can complete the funeral arrangements.

The Certificate for Burial or Cremation gives permission for burial or cremation.

This is commonly called the 'Green Form' and is usually given by you to your funeral director to allow them to begin making arrangements for burial or cremation. This is no charge for the certificate of burial or cremation.

The Death Certificate is a certified copy of the death entry in the register and proves that the death has been registered.

A Death Certificate is required for the funeral to proceed and to begin settling the estate of the deceased. It's important to get additional copies of the Death Certificate; these are needed in settling the estate of the deceased, required by banks, pensions or insurance companies and may be requested by utility companies when cancelling or amending contracts.

The Registrar will supply you with additional copies of the death certificate for a fee. Costs vary by country - In England and Wales they are £11.00; £15.00 in Northern Ireland; and £12.00 in Scotland.

Making an appointment with the Registrar in the area where the death took place will make the registration process quicker. In most cases you'll receive the Death Certificate and the Certificate of Burial or Cremation on the day from the registrar.

Following the pandemic, some registration offices no longer offer in-person appointments. Alternatively, you can register the death online, by telephone or by email. This can, however, delay the issuing of the Death Certificate, as documentation will need to be sent out to you by post.