Register a death

If possible a relative should register the death.

If a relative cannot register the death, you can do it if you:

• were there at the time of death
• are an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in hospital)
• are in charge of making funeral arrangements

Other people may be able to register the death in certain circumstances.

If more than one appointment is booked by different informants to register the same death, the registration will be completed at the first scheduled booking regardless of when other appointments were made. All other appointments will be cancelled.

The service is free of charge. To deal with the deceased's estate, you may need to purchase death certificates which are certified copies of the register entry. These may be required for banks, building societies, insurance claims, solicitors and some pension schemes. There is a fee for each certificate issued.

To register a death you will need to know the following information about the person who died:

• date and place of death
• full name and any previous names
• occupation (job)
• address
• date and place of birth
• the full name, job and date of birth of their spouse or partner if they were married or in a civil partnership

We'll also need your name and address.

It would be helpful if you could bring any of the following documents to the registration appointment to support the information being taken. If you are unable to provide the documents or they are not applicable this will not stop the registration taking place.

• their birth certificate
• their marriage or civil partnership certificate
• their Passport
• Proof of their address e.g. utility bill

When you register a death, if there has been no coroner involvement we will issue a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the 'green form') - this gives permission for burial or an application for cremation. 

 Any death certificates you may need can be issued in the appointment, there is a fee for each certificate issued. If you need more after the appointment you can order these by calling 0300 003 4569

The registrar will also issue you with a 'Tell Us Once' unique reference number to notify government agencies. You can then use this number to access the service either online or by phone which will notify local and national government departments about the death. This is a free government service. You can find more information about the Tell Us Once service by visiting GOV.UK: Tell Us Once (opens new window).