Since 1953, The death of every person dying in England and Wales and the cause thereof shall be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths. This can now be done at any registry office irrelevant of the sub-district in which the death occurred.
If following the death, the doctor can certify as to the cause of death, he or she will ask the family to call at either the hospital or surgery to collect a certificate. This certificate is known as ‘The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’. The certificate is free of charge and will be in a envelope addressed to the Registrar.
The death must be registered within 5 Days of the death, unless the Registrar says this period may be exceeded.
The following people can register the death:
• A close relative of the deceased.
• A relative in attendance during the deceased’s last illness.
• A relative living in the district where the death occurred.
• A person present at the death.
• The person-causing disposal of the deceased, for example, Solicitor.
You will need to make an appointment to register the death and you will need to take the following with you:
• The Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death.
• The deceased’s medical card, if possible.
• The deceased’s birth and marriage certificates, if available.
The Registrar will ask you:
• The deceased’s first names and surname (and the maiden name, where appropriate).
• The full postal address of the deceased.
• The deceased date of birth (town and county if born in the UK, and country if born aboard).
• The date and place of death.
• The deceased’s occupation and name and occupation of their spouse.
• If the deceased was married, the date and place of birth of the surviving widow or widower.
Upon registration, the Registrar will give you a Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register of Death. This certificate is often referred to as the ‘Death Certificate’ and you may need this for official purposes such as closing bank accounts, Will, pension claims, insurance policies, etc The Funeral Director does not need a copy of this certificate. You will also be issued a Certificate for Burial or Cremation which we will require in order to make the funeral arrangements on your behalf.