It is a legal requirement to register a death with the Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages:
- within five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- within eight days in Scotland unless the Registrar agrees to extend this period or when the death has been referred to the Coroner (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland).
- in Scotland and Northern Ireland the death can be registered in the district where the person died or where they lived.
- in England and Wales, the death must be registered in the district where the person died. If it is not convenient for the person registering the death to visit this district, registration can be arranged through any register office within England and Wales. However, it may take a day or two longer to issue the document which allows the funeral to proceed. If you think this may delay arrangements, do discuss this with the funeral director (if you are using one) and the Registrar before registering the death via another office.
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Who can register the death?
The death can be registered by any of the following people (this list is not comprehensive but covers most situations):
- a relative
- somebody unrelated but who was present at the time of death
- the occupier of or an official at the building where the death occurred eg a matron of a nursing home
- the person responsible for arranging the funeral (not a funeral director, who is not allowed to register the death).
The majority of deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. The Registrar would normally allow one of the other people listed above to register the death only if there are no relatives available to do it.
Before registering the death, you should discuss your intention to do so with anyone else who has the right and who is likely to want to do so, to make sure that your efforts are coordinated.
You will find the address of the register office in your local Yellow Pages directory (under local government).
You can also find this information on the web at:
Some register offices operate an appointments system, and opening hours vary between offices, so it is advisable to phone and check before you visit.
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What to take when registering a death
You should take with you the following documents about the deceased:
- the medical certificate confirming the cause of death which was issued by the doctor (this is essential)
- National Health Service medical card (if available)
- birth certificate (if available)
- marriage certificate (if appropriate)
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What the Registrar will want to know
The Registrar will want to know:
- date and place of death
- the deceased’s first names and surname (plus maiden name if applicable) and last usual address
- the deceased’s date and place of birth, and occupation
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What the Registrar will provide
In England and Wales
- A Certificate for Burial or Cremation for you to give to the funeral director.
- A Certificate for Social Security Benefits for you to take or send to the local Benefits Agency along with any pension, income support or other benefit books.
In Scotland:
- A certificate of registration of death for you to give to the funeral director.
- A Social Security registration or notification of death certificate for use in obtaining or adjusting Social Security benefits.
In Northern Ireland:
- GRO 21 which permits the burial or cremation to take place.
- Form 36 for production to the Social Security Offices regarding benefits.
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What charges apply?
There is no charge to register the death. However, certified copies of the death certificate will be needed to administer the estate. There is a charge for these, which is less if you request copies when you register the death rather than later, so you may want to ask for a number of copies at this time.
Some companies holding assets such as bank accounts, insurance policies or shares will accept a photocopy of the death certificate if certified by a solicitor as a true copy, but many now insist on an official certified copy from the Registrar. If you want to deal with several assets simultaneously in order to speed up the administration of the estate, you may want to request more official certified copies.
Charges are as follows:
England and Wales
£3.50 per copy if requested when registering the death, usually
£7 per copy if requested from the register office at a later date.
Scotland
£8.50 per copy if requested when registering the death or within the calendar year (ie up until and including December 31 of the year in which the death was registered), £13.50 per copy if requested after this.
Northern Ireland
£5.50 per copy if requested at the time of registering the death. After this, the charge is £11 for the first copy and £5.50 for each subsequent copy, if multiple copies are requested at the same time (though the £11 charge for the first copy is reduced to £5.50 if you supply full details of the registration - for more information please ask the Registrar).
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Recommended reading
England and Wales
What to do after a death in England and Wales (booklet D49 - Department of Works and Pensions)
www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2006/d49_april06.pdf
bilingual English and Welsh version:
www.dwp.gov.uk/cymraeg/publications/2005/d49_jan.pdf
Scotland
What to do after a death in Scotland: practical advice for times of bereavement (Scottish Executive)
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/waad.pdf
What to do after a death in Scotland: Social Security Supplement
(booklet D49S - Department of Works and Pensions)
www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/d49s/
Northern Ireland
A folder of useful information from various sources should be provided by the Registrar. When you register the death, the Registrar will probably give you a copy of the relevant booklet/information. If not, do ask.
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