Registering a death

When someone passes away, their death will need to be registered and a death certificate obtained. Once you have registered a death, you will be given all the necessary paperwork required to continue the funeral arrangements.

If you are unsure about how to register a death in the UK, H.J. Newington will be on hand to explain everything you need to know. From questions such as ‘Who can issue a death certificate?’ to ‘How to obtain a death certificate?’, we’re here to try and make this process easier for you. Our funeral directors are always available to help guide you through this process too.

The first and most important step following a death of a loved one is to contact their regular general practitioner “GP”, who will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Every death that occurs in England must be registered before a funeral can legally take place and should be registered within five working days.

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The process of registering a death is the formal record of the death. As part of the process, you’ll be given a copy of the death certificate. You’ll also need to obtain the death certificate to deal with the following steps such as personal bank accounts, mortgages, wills & various insurances if applicable.

 When registering a loved one’s death, the time frame depends on where you are in the UK:

  • If you’re in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you will have five days to register a death

Registering a loved one’s death is typically done by a close family relative of the person who has died. However, if no relatives are available, there are only certain people who can register a death. This includes a person:

  • Someone present when the person died
  • Someone who lives in the house where the person died
  • The person arranging the funeral, but not a funeral director

Once you have booked an appointment to register a loved one’s death with the local registrar, it’s important to provide them with as much information about the person who has died as possible. The most important piece of paperwork is the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death provided by the hospital or GP stating the cause of death. Without this, you will not be able to register a death.

It will be helpful if you have the following documents with you:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Council Tax bill
  • Driving License
  • Passport
  • Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate, if applicable
  • NHS Medical Card
  • Proof of address

You don’t need to have all of the above to register a death, so don’t worry if it’s not available.

If you have any questions about how to register a death or the documents you’ll need to register, please contact H.J. Newington Funeral Directors for further advice and support.

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  • Full name
  • Date and place of birth (you’ll need an original birth certificate if possible)
  • Last known address
  • Age
  • Last occupation
  • Whether they receive a state pension or any other benefits
  • Marital status (Bring a Marriage Certificate where applicable)
  • The age of the surviving Widow/ Widower
  • A Death Certificate: There is a cost for a death certificate, and this will vary depending on which borough the death occurred in.
  • A Green Certificate: This gives authorisation for burial or cremation to take place. This form is not issued if there has been a coroner’s post-mortem or if the deceased is being repatriated to another country. If one has been issued, please bring the Green Certificate to us as soon as possible unless we have received this via email from the Registrar.
  • A Certificate of Registration of Death: This is for social security purposes.

You may begin planning a funeral, but you cannot hold it until their death has been registered. The process will vary depending on the location and nature of the death. The Registrar must register the death. It must be completed within five days.

You can contact us to receive advice on where to go and make an appointment for you to complete this process.

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The Death Certificate is an entry in the death register, which is kept by the registrar.

You will receive ‘Certified Copies’ of the entry in the register, which is what banks and other organisations refer to as an ‘original’ death certificate. The registrar signs each certified copy in person and assigns it a unique number. You will be required to pay for certified copies of the death certificate. In England and Wales, a copy costs £11.00.

Yes, you can obtain more copies at a later date. We advise that the more complex the estate, the more certified copies you may need, especially if you do not use a professional to administer the estate. Between 3 and 5 copies are advisable but optional.

If you purchase further copies of the death certificate at a later date, they should arrive within 14 working days. Should you require a copy sooner than this, you can use the priority service for £23.40, which should be sent the next working day.

Registering the death is done by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, which is situated at the local register office.

If a death occurs at home, the death should be registered at the local register office in the district where they lived. If the death occurred in a hospital, nursing home or other public building, the death must be registered at the registry office for the district in which the hospital or home is situated.

The Tell Us Once service will allow you to notify a person’s death to various government departments simultaneously. Please note this service isn’t available everywhere in the UK.

When you register a death, the registrar will:
  • Let you know if the service is available in your area
  • Give you the phone number
  • Give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service online or by phone
Tell Us Once will notify:
  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
  • Passport Office
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
  • The local council
  • Veterans UK

How to find a local Registry Office?

If you wish to find your nearest Registry Office, you can click on the markers on the map below. You can also visit the General Registry Office website to search by postcode of the location where the person died. This site will assist you in finding the correct Registry Office. The Registry Office for the place where the person died must be contacted, rather than the one for the place where they lived.

To ensure that all deaths are accurately recorded, they must be reported to the local Registrar’s Office within the district where the death occurred.

Find a registry office