Register a death

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.

When and how to register a death

Who can register the death

How much registering a death costs

Tell Us Once service

If a coroner is involved

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.

Book an appointment to register a death

Or call us on 0300 123 4045.

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:

Order a copy of a death certificate

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.

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.

Register a death

When and how to register a death

Who can register the death

How much registering a death costs

Tell Us Once service

If a coroner is involved

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