Registration
How death registration works in England:
When someone dies, the hospital, GP, or coroner completes the medical steps and confirms when the family can register the death. A medical Examiner will usually contact the next of kin to explain the cause of death and answer any questions. Once this has been done, the family can book an appointment with the local register office, and the death must normaly be registered within five days.
At the appointment the registrar will ask for key details about the peson who has died, such as their full name, date and place of birth, occupation, and marital status. Helpful documents (like a passport or driving licence) can be brought if available, but they are not essential. After the registration is complete, the registrar issues the certificate for burial or cremation (often called the "green form"), which allows the funeral to proceed.
Families often order several official copies of the death certificate because many organisations require an original before they can close accounts or release information.
These may be needed for:
- Banks and building societies
- Pension providers
- Insurance companies
- Mortgage or loan companies
- Utility companies (gas, electric, water)
- Council tax and local authority records
- Housing associations or private landlords
- Solicitors dealing with probabte or estate matters
- Investment companies, shares, and premium bonds
Having multiple copies can make the administrative process smoother, as many organisations will not accept photocopies.
A death must be registered by someone legally recognised as a qualified informant. In most cases this will be the nearest relative, especially if they were present at the death or involved with the person's final illness. Where no relative is available, the law allows others to register, such as someone who witnessed the death, the person responsible for the premises where the death occurred, or the individual arranging the funeral. Registrars will always proritise a relative, but they can accept another qualified person when necessary.
Qualified informant Hierarchy (England & Wales)
- A relative present at the death
- A relative present during the final illness
- A relative living in the same registration district
- Any person present at the death
- The occupier of the premises where the death occurred (e.g care home or hospital representative)
- The person arranging the funeral (executor or next of kin)
- Medical certificate of cause of death (already at the registrar's)
- Medical card or birth certificate (if available)
- Photo ID for yourself
- Date and place of death
- Full name of deceased (maiden name if applicable)
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation and home address (and if the deceased was a married woman or a widow the full name and occupation of her husband)
- Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
- If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower