How do I register a death, and what do I need to take?
The appointment, the documents, who is allowed to do it, and what changes when a coroner is involved — which is the case that catches people out.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 1 hr
- Read
- 4 min
Short answer
Register at a register office, normally within five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and eight in Scotland, once the medical certificate has been issued. Book an appointment; most offices no longer take walk-ins. Take the deceased's date and place of birth, address, occupation and NHS number if you have them, and buy several certified copies of the certificate while you are there.
Since the medical examiner system was introduced in England and Wales, the medical certificate of cause of death goes to the register office directly rather than being handed to the family, and a medical examiner reviews it and speaks to the next of kin first. That has changed the sequence for many people: you wait for the register office to tell you it has the certificate before you can book.
Step by step
- Wait for the medical certificate to be issued.In England and Wales the certifying doctor and the medical examiner deal with this and send it to the register office. You cannot register until it is there, and the register office will normally contact you or confirm when you call.
- Check whether the coroner is involved.Where a death is sudden, unexplained, violent, or occurred in particular circumstances, it is referred to the coroner. Registration is then delayed, sometimes for months. The coroner can issue an interim certificate of the fact of death, which most banks, insurers and employers accept in the meantime — ask for it, because it is not always offered.
- Book an appointment at the right register office.Normally the office for the district where the death occurred. Most offices are appointment-only. Some allow registration by declaration at another office, which forwards the details, but that adds days before certificates arrive.
- Check you are someone who can register.Usually a relative, someone present at the death, an occupant or official of the building where it happened, or the person arranging the funeral. A funeral director cannot normally register on your behalf.
- Take the information the registrar needs.Full name and any former names, date and place of birth, last address, occupation, marital or civil partnership status, and the name and occupation of a surviving spouse or civil partner. Their NHS number, and details of any pension or benefits from public funds, if known.
- Take documents if you have them, but go anyway if you do not.Birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, NHS card, driving licence, passport and proof of address are all useful. None is compulsory, and the registrar records information rather than verifying documents. Do not delay the appointment to find them.
- Buy several certified copies of the death certificate.Each bank, insurer, pension provider and registrar of shares wants an original or a certified copy, and many are slow to return them. Buying extra at the appointment is far cheaper and faster than ordering them later. Around ten is a common number for an estate with several institutions.
- Ask the registrar about Tell Us Once.The registrar issues a reference that lets you notify most government departments in a single transaction — HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office and the local council. It has a time limit from the date the reference is issued, and it does not cover banks, insurers or utilities.
- Collect the green form for the funeral.The registrar issues a certificate for burial or cremation, which the funeral director needs. Where the coroner is involved, they issue the equivalent authorisation instead.
Common mistakes
- Buying only one death certificate — Institutions each want their own copy and hold them for weeks. Ordering more later costs more per copy and delays everything that is waiting on them.
- Waiting for the full certificate when a coroner is involved — An interim certificate lets most of the estate administration start. Ask the coroner's officer for one rather than waiting months.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to register a death?
Normally five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and eight in Scotland, from when the medical certificate is issued. Where a coroner or procurator fiscal is involved, that clock does not start until they release the death for registration.
Can a funeral director register the death for me?
No. It has to be someone in one of the qualifying categories — usually a relative, someone present at the death, or the person arranging the funeral. The funeral director can arrange much of the rest.
What is an interim death certificate?
A certificate of the fact of death issued by a coroner where an investigation or inquest is not yet complete. Most banks, insurers and employers accept it, which allows the estate to be dealt with while the inquest runs.