How to register a death

The registration of a death will need to take place before the funeral can happen. It should be done within 5 days of the death occurring. To avoid any unnecessary delays, it’s best to visit the Register Office in the district where the deceased died. If the coroner is involved this will take longer but the relevant authorities have to be aware.

A close relative of the deceased usually registers the death, but if this is not possible there are alternatives.

• A relative in attendance during the last illness
• A relative living in the district where death occurred
• A person in attendance at death
• The relevant official from the hospital or nursing home
• The person arranging the funeral, but not ourselves

Once you are at the Register Office a short interview will take place. This is a simple and straightforward process to confirm the details of the deceased. The information you will be asked to supply and the documentation are outlined below:

• Medical Certificate of Death (document)
• Full name of deceased (maiden name if applicable)
• Marital status (marriage or civil partnership certificates if applicable)
• Date and place of birth (birth certificate)
• Home address
• Occupation
• Name of spouse
• Date of birth of spouse
• Occupation of spouse