How to Register a Death in the UK

What Is Death Registration and Why Does It Matter?

Registering a death is a legal requirement in the UK and is the formal process through which the state records that a person has died. Without registration, you cannot obtain the death certificates needed to settle the estate, claim life insurance, or instruct a funeral director to proceed with cremation. If you haven't yet chosen a funeral director, /find-a-funeral-director/ to find an NAFD-accredited member near you. It is one of the first practical steps that must be taken after a death.

The process differs slightly between England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, though the principles are the same. This guide focuses primarily on the process in England and Wales, with key differences for Scotland and Northern Ireland noted.

Time Limits for Registering a Death

The legal time limits for registering a death are:

• England and Wales – within five days of the date of death (not the date you obtain the medical certificate). The deadline may be extended if the death has been referred to the coroner.
• Scotland – within eight days of the date of death.
• Northern Ireland – within five days of the date of death.

If the death is referred to the coroner (for example, because the cause of death is unknown or the death was sudden and unexplained), you cannot register the death until the coroner has given authority for registration to proceed. The coroner's office will advise you on timing.

Where to Register the Death

In England and Wales, you must register the death at the register office for the district in which the person died — not the district where they lived, if these are different. If the death occurred in a hospital, the hospital's bereavement office will advise you on the correct register office.

You can visit any register office in England and Wales to declare the death if you cannot get to the one in the registration district where the death occurred, but the declaration will then be sent to the correct district to be formally registered. This is called registering by declaration.

In Scotland, registration is at the district register office for the area where the death occurred. In Northern Ireland, at the local District Registration Office.

Who Can Register a Death?

In England and Wales, the death must be registered by a person known legally as a qualified informant. The following people can act as qualified informant:

1. A relative of the deceased who was present at the death
2. A relative of the deceased who was present during the last illness
3. A relative of the deceased who is not in the categories above but who lives in the sub-district where the death occurred
4. A person (not a relative) who was present at the death
5. The occupier (or person responsible for managing) the premises where the death occurred, if they have knowledge of the death
6. The person responsible for arranging the funeral

A relative is always preferred; only if no relative is available or willing should a non-relative register the death.

What Documents Do You Need to Register a Death?

To register the death, you must bring:

• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) issued by the attending doctor — this is essential and registration cannot take place without it (or coroner's authority)

It also helps to bring as many of the following as possible, though they are not all strictly required:

• The deceased's NHS medical card
• The deceased's birth certificate
• The deceased's marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
• Any documents showing the deceased's address, National Insurance number, or occupation
• The deceased's passport

You do not need to make an appointment at all register offices, but many now prefer or require one. Check the website of the relevant register office before visiting.

What the Registrar Will Ask You

The registrar will ask you to provide the following information about the deceased:

• Full name (and maiden name if applicable)
• Date and place of birth
• Date and place of death
• Home address
• Occupation (or last occupation)
• Whether they were in receipt of a pension or social security benefit
• If married or in a civil partnership: the name and occupation of the surviving spouse or civil partner

The registrar will record this information in the register and check it with you before you sign. Ensure all details are accurate — corrections to death certificates are possible but require a formal process.

What You Receive After Registration

After registering the death, you will receive:

1. The Death Certificate (BD8 or GRO form)

The Certificate for Burial or Cremation (known as the "green form" in England and Wales) is given free of charge and authorises the burial or cremation to take place. You pass this to the funeral director.

Note: from April 2026, the separate medical referee system for cremation was reformed, and the green form system was also updated. Your funeral director will advise on the current paperwork requirements.

2. Certified Copies of the Death Certificate

These are official copies of the entry in the death register, each bearing the registrar's signature and the official seal. They are what banks, insurers, pension providers, solicitors, and other institutions will require as proof of death.

Each certified copy costs £11 in England and Wales (from April 2026). You should order these at the time of registration rather than ordering them later, when there may be a delay.

How many to order: Most families need between five and ten certified copies. You will typically need one each for: each bank or building society account, each pension provider, life insurance policies, the solicitor handling probate, the deceased's employer, and any investment or savings accounts.

3. A Unique Reference for Tell Us Once

The registrar will give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service, which allows you to notify multiple government departments in a single step. This saves considerable time and reduces the risk of overlooking a department that needs to be informed.

Registering a Death That Occurred Abroad

If the death occurred outside the UK, the process is more complex. The death must usually be registered in the country of death under local law. You can also register the death with the British authorities (though this is voluntary for UK citizens dying abroad). Contact the British Consulate or Embassy in the country where the death occurred for guidance. See also our guide to what to do when someone dies for broader context.

After Registration: What Happens Next

Once the death is registered and you have the green form, the funeral director can proceed with the cremation or burial. Simultaneously, you should begin notifying financial institutions, government bodies, and other organisations. The Tell Us Once service covers most government notifications; your solicitor or the deceased's bank can advise on estate administration.

For guidance on the next steps in funeral planning, see our full guide to what to do when someone dies.

This guide is provided by the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), which represents funeral directing businesses conducting over 80% of all UK funerals. Find a trusted NAFD funeral director near you.

What Happens at the Register Office Appointment?

Most register offices in England and Wales now require you to book an appointment — walk-in availability is limited, so contact your local office as soon as possible after the death. Appointments typically last 30 to 45 minutes.

The registrar will ask you a series of questions about the deceased to complete the official register entry. These include:

• The date and place of death
• The deceased's full name (and any former names, including maiden name)
• Their date and place of birth
• Their last known home address
• Their occupation (or last occupation)
• Whether they were receiving a State Pension or any other public sector pension
• The name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner (if applicable)

Once the entry is complete, you will be asked to check it carefully and sign the register. The registrar will then issue a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the 'green form') — or, if the death was referred to a coroner, the coroner's certificate — which authorises the funeral to proceed. You will also receive a Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8 in England and Wales), which you may need to notify the Department for Work and Pensions about any State Pension or benefits.

If you need certified copies of the death certificate — which you almost certainly will — you can purchase them at this appointment (see below).

How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost, and How Many Do You Need?

A certified copy of the death certificate costs £11 in England and Wales (as of 2026), £10 in Scotland, and £15 in Northern Ireland. These are official certified copies — each is a full legal copy of the registered entry and carries equal weight.

It is almost always cheaper to order multiple copies at the time of registration than to order them later. Additional copies ordered after the event still cost the same per certificate but require a separate application and can take longer to arrive.

How many should you order? Most families need between four and ten copies, depending on the complexity of the estate. As a rough guide, you may need a separate original certificate for:

• Each bank or building society holding accounts in the deceased's name
• The probate registry (if applying for a Grant of Probate)
• Life insurance or pension providers
• HM Revenue & Customs
• The deceased's employer or private pension scheme
• Premium Bonds (NS&I)
• Any property title held in the deceased's sole name

When in doubt, order more than you think you need. The cost of an extra certificate is far lower than the time and admin involved in ordering additional copies weeks later. If you are also thinking about funeral costs at this stage, our /funeral-cost-calculator/ can help you understand likely expenses in your area.

The Tell Us Once Service: Notifying Government Departments Automatically

When you register a death in England, Scotland, or Wales, the registrar will give you access to the Tell Us Once service. This free government service allows you to report the death to most central and local government departments in a single step, rather than contacting each one individually.

Tell Us Once can notify:

• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) — to cancel State Pension and benefits
• DVLA — to cancel the deceased's driving licence and vehicle tax
• The Passport Office — to cancel the deceased's passport
• Local council — to cancel council tax discounts, housing benefit, and electoral roll registration
• Veterans UK (if the deceased received a Ministry of Defence pension)

The registrar will provide you with a unique reference number and a web address or phone number to complete Tell Us Once. You have 28 days from receiving the reference number to use it. You can complete the notification online or by phone — the online service is available 24 hours a day.

Tell Us Once does not cover banks, insurance companies, utility providers, or private organisations — you will need to contact those separately. Northern Ireland has its own equivalent process; the registrar there will advise you on the relevant steps.

When a Death Is Referred to the Coroner: What It Means for Registration

Not all deaths can be registered immediately. A doctor must refer a death to the coroner if they are unable to certify the cause of death — for example, because:

• The death was sudden, unexpected, or unexplained
• The deceased had not been seen by a doctor in the 28 days before death
• The death may have been caused by an accident, violence, or industrial disease
• The death occurred during or shortly after a surgical procedure
• The cause of death is unknown

When a death is referred, you cannot register the death until the coroner gives authority. The coroner's office will keep you informed of progress and will tell you when you can proceed.

In many cases, the coroner can establish the cause of death quickly — sometimes through a post-mortem examination — and will issue a certificate allowing registration to go ahead. If an inquest is required, the process takes longer; the coroner issues an interim certificate in the meantime, which is sufficient for most legal and financial purposes while you wait.

The coroner's office will liaise directly with the register office in many cases. Your funeral director can also help guide you through this process, and a coroner referral does not necessarily delay the funeral significantly. If you need support finding a trusted funeral director, /find-a-funeral-director/.