When someone dies, their death must be registered before the cremation or burial can take place. In England and Wales, registration usually happens within five days; in Scotland, within eight days. This guide explains who does it, what you bring, what you receive, and what the next steps are. We have written it for families who have never registered a death before.
Who can register a death? Any of the following can act as 'qualified informants' under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953: a relative of the deceased; someone present at the death; a person in charge of the place where the death happened (e.g. a hospital administrator); or the person arranging the funeral. In practice, it is almost always a close relative — a spouse, adult child, parent or sibling.
When does registration happen? Registration must take place within five days of the death in England and Wales, and within eight days in Scotland. However, the clock only starts once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been issued and — in England and Wales — reviewed by a Medical Examiner. If the death has been referred to the coroner, registration cannot proceed until the coroner releases the case, which can sometimes take longer than five days. In those circumstances, the registrar will guide you on timing.
Where do you register? You must register the death at the register office for the district where the death took place — not where the person lived, and not where the funeral will be. Most register offices require an appointment: you can usually book online via your local council's website, or by phone. Walk-in registrations are sometimes possible but appointments are strongly recommended.
What to bring to the appointment. The registrar will ask for the following information about the person who has died: their full name (and any other names they were known by); their date and place of birth; their last home address; their occupation (including if they were retired); their marital or civil partnership status, and the name and occupation of any surviving spouse; and whether they were in receipt of any state pension or benefit. You do not need any specific documents — the medical paperwork is sent directly to the registrar. However, it is helpful to bring the deceased's NHS number (if you have it), their birth certificate, their marriage or civil partnership certificate, and proof of their address (e.g. a council tax bill or recent letter). None of this is strictly required.
What you will receive. At the end of the appointment, the registrar will issue you with two important documents. First, a certificate for cremation or burial (the 'green form' in England and Wales). This is what we as the funeral director need in order to arrange the cremation — you should pass it to us as soon as possible. Second, the death certificate itself, which is your formal record of the death. The first death certificate costs £12.50 in England and Wales (different rates in Scotland and Northern Ireland). It is usually worth buying several copies at the appointment, as banks, insurance companies and pension providers will each ask for one. Additional copies cost £12.50 each at the time of registration, and more if you order them later.
Tell Us Once. When you register the death, the registrar will offer you a unique reference number for the Tell Us Once service. This is a free government service that notifies most government departments of the death with a single online submission. It covers HMRC, DWP, the Passport Office, the DVLA, local council services (council tax, electoral roll, blue badge, housing benefit), and a number of others. It saves families enormous administrative time, and we strongly recommend using it. The service is available in England, Wales and Scotland; Northern Ireland has its own equivalent.
What about banks, insurance and utilities? Tell Us Once does not cover private organisations. You will need to notify these separately: banks and building societies, credit card providers, insurance companies (life, home, car), the deceased's employer or pension scheme, utilities (gas, electric, water), telephone and internet providers, and any subscription services. Most have dedicated bereavement teams who will pause direct debits and freeze accounts; the Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) allows you to notify several major UK banks with a single submission.
What if the death needs to be referred to the coroner? In England and Wales, the coroner becomes involved when a death is sudden, unexpected, violent, or where the cause is unclear. The coroner's officer will keep you informed throughout. If a post-mortem is ordered, the registrar cannot complete the registration until the coroner has issued either a 'Form 100A' (no inquest required) or a 'Form 100B' (inquest opened). Cremation cannot proceed in either case until the coroner formally authorises release. For more on this, read our guide to when the coroner is involved.
Differences in Scotland. Scottish death registration is governed by the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965. The time limit is eight days. The paperwork uses Form 14 rather than the Medical Examiner pathway. Scottish registrars also issue a 'green form' equivalent that authorises cremation.
If you need help. The registration appointment itself usually takes around thirty minutes. Take a relative or friend with you — there is no rule against it, and it can be helpful. If you do not know where to start, call our team on 0333 242 1405 and we will walk you through it. Your local funeral director can also tell you exactly which register office you need and help you book the appointment.