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Registration of the death by the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages must be done:

• after the Registrar has received the MCCD and/or consent from the coroner to register.
• before burial or repatriation overseas can take place.
• within 5 days of the death – this includes weekends and bank holidays.

Where do you register?

An appointment will need to be booked with the Registrar in the local authority area where the death occurred (not where the deceased lived). They are usually located in Civic/Council buildings.

You can find the correct register office by entering the place of death postcode on find a register office. 

• www.gov.uk/register-offices

.A relative should register the death. The person registering the death is known as the informant.  If a relative cannot register the death, you can do it if you:

• were present at the time of death
• are an occupier from the hospital (if the person died in hospital, this is usually someone from the bereavement office)
• are in charge of making funeral arrangements

The registrar requires information to complete the registration. They will have received the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (MCCD) from the Doctor and any supporting documents required by the coroner.

The informant will be asked to provide:

• the person’s full name at the time of death
• any names previously used, e.g. maiden name, or if known by another name
• the person’s date and place of birth
• their last address
• their occupation
• the full name, date of birth, and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
• whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits
• your details as the informant

When you register a death, you will get:

• Death Certificate
• Certificate for Burial (the ‘green form’ which allows burial to take place – this may be emailed to
• Information regarding the Tell Us Once Service which will allow you to inform local and central government of a bereavement in one transaction.

There is no charge to register a death.  However, the Death Certificates cost £11.00 each.  The Registrar will print off as many copies as you request.  It is suggested that 3-5 should be more than adequate; banks/building societies often require originals.  Although ultimately depends on the number of affairs the deceased had.

Many registration services offer an out-of-service to meet the needs of the local community in particular where the burial is time-critical.

Please check with the respective register office for their out-of-hours arrangements.

You can use a register office to:

• register a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership
• find records of a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership (if it was registered at that register office)
• order copies of certificates

www.gov.uk/register-offices