How to register the Death

Registering a Death: What You Need to Know
Registering the death of a loved one is an essential legal step, usually completed within five days of their passing in the UK. However, registration cannot take place until the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been issued by a doctor or coroner and received by the registrar.

When Can You Register the Death?
The medical team sends the MCCD directly to the registrar. The next of kin is usually contacted to confirm that the registrar has received the certificate and that registration can proceed.

Who Can Register the Death?

• A relative of the deceased
• Someone present at the time of death
• An occupant of the home or care setting where the death occurred
• A hospital official
• The person arranging the funeral

What You’ll Need

The MCCD (already sent to the registrar)

NHS medical card (if available)

Birth and marriage certificates (if available)

Proof of identity or address for the deceased (e.g. passport, council tax bill, driving licence)

How to Register
Book an appointment with the registrar in the district where the death occurred.

If you cannot travel, ask about registering by declaration. This allows your local registrar to take the information and forward it to the correct district. Please allow extra time.

The registrar will ask for details such as:

• Full name and any previous names
• Date and place of birth and death
• Last address
• Occupation
• Details of any spouse or civil partner
• Pension or benefit information

 

The process usually takes about 30 minutes. Let the registrar know in advance if you need cultural, religious, or accessibility support.

If the Coroner Is Involved
If the death is referred to the coroner (e.g. it was sudden or the cause is unclear), a post-mortem or inquest may be required.

If an inquest takes place, the death cannot be registered until it is concluded.

Once the inquest is completed, the coroner will provide all necessary details to the registrar, and the registration is completed automatically.

You do not need to attend the Register Office in these cases.

If a funeral needs to go ahead before the inquest ends, the coroner can issue an interim certificate or authorise burial/cremation.

After Registration

Once the death has been registered, you will receive:

Death Certificate(s) – Each certified copy costs approximately £12.50. It is recommended to purchase several copies if you will be handling legal, financial, or estate matters.

Certificate for Burial or Cremation (Green Form) – This is given to your funeral director so funeral arrangements can go ahead. There is no charge for this form.

Tell Us Once reference number – Most registry offices now offer this service, which allows you to notify several government departments (including the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, and more) in one step. The registrar will explain how to use the service online or by phone.

In areas not using Tell Us Once, a Form BD8 (formerly known as the white form) may still be provided, which is used to manually inform DWP about pensions and benefits.

If Someone dies abroad

If someone dies outside the UK, you must register the death according to the local laws of the country where the death occurred. This process will provide you with a local death certificate. If the certificate is not in English, you will need to obtain an official translation.

While not mandatory, you may choose to register the death with UK authorities. This creates a record in the UK General Register Office (GRO) or National Records of Scotland. To do this, you can apply for a Consular Death Registration.

Fees for Consular Death Registration:

£150 for registering the death

£50 for each certified copy of the consular death registration certificate

£5–£25 for document return fees, depending on the country

Deaths on Foreign Ships or Aircraft

If the death occurred on a foreign-registered ship or aircraft, you must register the death in the country where the vessel is registered.

If you need support with this process please do n ot hesitate to reach out to us Contact