3 Step 3 of 18

Register the death

Within 5 days (England and Wales)

You must register the death at a register office within 5 days in England and Wales (8 days in Scotland). You will need the medical certificate and some details about the person who died.

Registration can be done at any register office, though it is simplest to use the one in the area where the person died.

The registrar will ask you about the person who died — their full name, date and place of birth, occupation, and address. They will also ask about their marital status and, if they were married, their spouse's name and occupation.

After registration, you will receive:
- A green form (for burial or cremation)
- A certificate for the Department for Work and Pensions (form BD8)
- Death certificates (you will usually need several — there is a fee per copy, currently around £11 each)

The registrar can also use the Tell Us Once service to notify government departments on your behalf.

What you will need

Medical certificate of cause of death
The person's birth certificate (if available)
Their NHS number (if known)
Their National Insurance number (if known)
Details of their address, occupation, and marital status
Your own ID (passport or driving licence)

About 30 minutes at the register office

This can feel very final. Some people find it helpful to bring someone with them for support.

Previous step

2. Contact a funeral director

Next step

4. Use the Tell Us Once service

Your checklist

You are on step 3 of 18.

View full checklist

Call them directly

While you're here...

Most people forget these 5 things Before you go — don't miss this You're sorted. But there's more to do. 5 things most people forget to sort

Contacting the funeral director is step one. But there are 4 other things you'll need to deal with — and most people don't know about them until it's too late.

We'll send you a simple checklist so nothing gets missed.

One email. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Check your inbox

We've sent the checklist to .