A death must be registered in the district where it occurs. However, if a death occurs in another district, a declaration can be made here and forwarded to the Registrar of that district.*
(*Please note that it may take longer for the certificates to be issued as we rely on the postal service to send documents).
Firstly, collect the "Medical Certificate of Cause of Death"
. This will be issued by the doctor who "certifies" the death.
Then telephone the Register Office to make an appointment to register. Registration must take place within five days of the death.
The Registrar will ask you questions to make sure you are the person qualified by law to register the death. To "qualify" you should be either:
- Related to the deceased.
- Present at the death.
- Responsible for making the funeral arrangements.
The Registrar will then ask you questions relating to the deceased. The information you give will be entered in the register.
Please ensure you know the date and place of birth of the deceased and their occupation. You will also be asked for the full name and occupation of their spouse and their date of birth.
Please bring with you the NHS Medical Card of the deceased.
Once the registration is complete, the Registrar will issue certificates.
You will receive Free of Charge the following two forms:
- A certificate of Burial/Cremation - this is a green from and must be handed to the Funeral Director.
- A Registration or Notification of Death Form - this is a white form. It is issued purely for the purpose of notifying the DSS of the death. The informant completes the back of the form and sends it to the DSS with any pension or allowance books belonging to the deceased.
Death Certificates
If you require any "full" death certificates (for banks, insurance companies, etc.), you can buy them at the time of registration. Each certified copy is £3.50.
To make an appointment or for any queries), please telephone 01724 842425.