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Hertfordshire County Council

All death registrations must take place in person at the register office. 

Please only book a registration appointment once the doctor has sent the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (MCCD) to the Registrar or the Coroner’s Officer has advised you to book a registration appointment.

 

Available weekend mornings, if the funeral is taking place at the weekend

 

When and how to register a death

If a coroner isn't involved, a death needs to be registered with the registrar within 5 days.

 

Who can register the death

A death can be registered by:

  • a relative of the deceased
  • a person present at the death
  • the occupier of the house where the death took place
  • the person who is arranging the funeral and instructing the funeral director.

 

How much registering a death costs

There's no fee for registering a death.

Death certificates cost £11 each. You can buy as many as you require when booking your appointment online, then collect them at your appointment. You can also order further copies after your appointment:


For any correction requested to a death certificate there will be a non-refundable fee of £75 or £90 (dependent on whether the correction can be done locally or has to be referred to the General Register Office).

Check the register page carefully before signing to avoid the need for corrections.

 

Tell Us Once service

Following the registration of a death, several government departments and local services will need to be told.

Once the death is registered, the registrar will issue you with a Tell Us Once reference number. You can go online or call the DWP for free. On your behalf they'll tell most government and local government departments that the death has taken place.

The informant has the option of contacting the Department of Work and Pensions online or by phone on 0800 083 7308.

You have 28 days to use this service after registering the death.

 

If a coroner is involved

Sometimes the doctor has to refer the death to the coroner so they can investigate.

The death can't be registered until the coroner has finished their investigation. The Coroner's Office will tell you when you can arrange an appointment to register the death.

If an inquest hearing has to be held, then the Coroner will register the death. You will be able to order death certificates once the hearing is complete.

We also offer bereavement services.

 

Emergency death registration service

Available 9.00am-11.30am on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays (excluding Christmas Day)

Call 0300 123 4045

Our emergency registrar will only issue a certificate for a funeral or cremation to proceed (Form 9) if:

  • a qualified medical practitioner (doctor) has issued a valid Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (MCCD)
  • the cause of death on the MCCD does not require a referral to the coroner
  • the funeral is due to take place at the weekend.

You must still book an appointment to register the death as soon as possible.

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