Registering a death is a legal requirement in the UK. This guide explains who can register a death, what documents you'll need, the time limits, and what happens at the appointment.
The death can be registered by a relative of the deceased, someone present at the death, the occupier of the building where the death occurred, or the person arranging the funeral. In practice, it's usually a close family member.
Register at the register office in the district where the person died (not necessarily where they lived). In England and Wales, you have 5 days. In Scotland, you have 8 days. Most register offices require an appointment — call ahead or book online.
You'll need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (from the doctor or coroner), and ideally: the person's birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, NHS medical card, driving licence, passport, and details of their occupation and address.
The registrar will ask for details about the deceased — full name, date and place of birth, occupation, and address. They will then issue: the death certificate (which you may need multiple copies of — there's a fee per copy), and the green form (Certificate for Burial or Cremation) which the funeral director needs.
Give the green form to your funeral director so the funeral can proceed. You may also want to use the Tell Us Once service, which notifies multiple government departments (DWP, HMRC, passport office, DVLA, local council) of the death in a single step.
All funeral directors listed here are NAFD-accredited and adhere to a strict Code of Practice.
Search funeral directors18 steps covering everything you need to do in the first 30 days.
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