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How, When and Where to Register a Death

Category: What To Do When Someone Dies


How, when and where to register a death

Deaths need to be registered within 5 days at the local register office. You can find your local one here: www.gov.uk/register-offices.

The medical examining officer will have sent the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death directly to the registrar, so you won’t receive a death certificate from a doctor or hospital staff member to take with you, as the process has changed as of September 2024.

Once you make an appointment at your local register office, here’s what you need to do:

A relative of the person who’s died usually registers the death. If no relative is available, then the death can be registered by:

• a person who was present at the death

• an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in hospital)

• the person responsible for arranging the funeral

You should be able to register the death before your funeral arrangement appointment, unless a coroner becomes involved.

What does the Registrar need to know?

The register office will tell you what you need to do when you contact them, such as:

• the person’s full name at the time of death

• any names previously used, e.g., surname before marriage

• 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 receiving a State Pension or any other benefits

They may also want to see the person’s:

• birth certificate

• council tax bill

• driving licence

• marriage or civil partnership certificate

• NHS medical card

• passport

• proof of address (e.g., utility bill)

You can ask the register office what to do if you do not have these items.

When you register the death, you’ll receive:

• A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the ‘green form’): this provides permission for a burial or an application for cremation.

• A Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8): you may need to fill this in and return it if the person was receiving a State Pension or other benefits (the form will come with a pre-paid envelope, so you know where to send it).

You’ll need to let HMRC know so they can stop any tax, benefits, and pensions. HMRC have a Tell Us Once service that lets you tell them about a death, and they inform most government agencies in one go.

You’ll need to be, or have permission from, the next of kin, executor or anyone who was claiming joint benefits with them.

There’ll also be some private accounts that need to be shut down such as mobile phones, social media, car insurance and utilities. You can use Life Ledger who can help you notify all the companies you need to in one go, and free of charge.