To register a death, you should be either the next of kin, a close relative, someone who was present at the death (for example if it was within a hospice or care home) or the person dealing with the funeral arrangements
- Obtain a medical certificate. Often you will need to collect it from the place the person died. However, if the death was referred to the coroner, (Investigates deaths in certain situations, including deaths abroad and unexplained deaths, and will make the decision as to when the body can be released to the next of kin and if a post mortem and/or an inquest is required). In this situation you may have to wait until after a post mortem. At this stage a death certificate will be signed by the coroner and the body released. (This involves a special form if the body is to be cremated). If there is an inquest you will get an interim death certificate whilst the inquest is ongoing and once it is complete you will get a final Death Certificate.
- A stillbirth (after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy) must be registered within 42 days unless permission is given by the Register Office. You will need a Medical Certificate of Stillbirth which is issued by a medical professional. If the parents are not married and the father registers the death, the mother will have to make a signed declaration. The Death Certificate allows for the name of a child to be recorded. There may be a requirement for an autopsy via the coroner.
- If the baby was born alive and then died (within 28 days of birth), you need to register both the birth and the death. There may be a requirement for an autopsy via the coroner.
- Make an appointment with the registrar at the local authority. You must register a death within 5 days (including weekends and bank holidays. To register a death, you ideally need the following information to take to your meeting
- National Insurance number
- Birth (date and place)
- Marriage/civil partnership certificates (previous names)
- Occupation
- Details of state benefits
- NHS medical card
- Also, your own identification (passport, driving licence) and a utility bill with your address to show your identity is valid.
- Registrars also issue a Certificate for burial or an application for cremation. This means you can commence arrangements.
- Most registrar services operate a ‘tell us once’ service whereby all government departments relevant to the deceased will be notified so that they can cancel tax claims and benefits. You will however have to notify them of the relevant authorities Examples include; Passport Office, HMRC, DVLA, Dept Work and Pensions, Local authority (bus passes, electoral roll, blue badge, rent etc)
- The Registrar will issue a Death Certificate. It is a good idea to collect additional copies of this, as the executors of the deceased estate will need them to prove access to bank accounts, pensions, insurances etc.