Registering a death

Registering a death

This must be done within 5 days if a coroner is not involved. You must register the death at the registry office of the district in which the deceased passed away. If it is not possible for you to attend the office in question you are able to make a declaration at any registry office in England and Wales, which will then be sent to the correct office for the death to be registered. This may lead to a delay in obtaining the death certificate and other necessary documents. Please note that an appointment is normally required, so it is important to call the registry office in advance to arrange this.

When registering the death you will need a doctor’s certificate of cause of death (if you have received one) as well as information regarding the deceased. This includes:
  • The date and place of death
  • The deceased’s full name, including maiden name if they have one
  • The date and place of birth for the deceased
  • The occupation of the deceased. If the deceased is a married or widowed woman, you will also need the name and occupation of her husband
  • The home address of the deceased
  • The date of birth of any surviving spouse
  • Whether the deceased was in receipt of any pension or benefits
  • If it is easily available, the medical card or NHS number of the deceased

When the death has been registered, the registrar will provide you with a death certificate if required, which you are likely to need when dealing with the deceased’s estate. It may be worth asking for multiple copies as if you require more copies later, a higher fee will be charged by the registry office.


The registrar will also provide you with a certificate for burial or cremation. We will require this in order to arrange the funeral. Please check that all the details on this document are correct immediately so that any errors can be corrected. In addition, they will provide you with a certificate of the registration of death, required for the cancellation of social security payments and pensions.

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