Register a death

You are legally required to register a death within 5 days from when the Coroner or Medical Examiner has passed the relevant paperwork to the Register Office. The registration should take place in the district where the person died.

Changes to the death certification process

Regulations introducing changes to the death certification process were laid before Parliament on 15 April 2024 and will come into force on 9 September 2024.

The reforms change the way in which the causes of deaths are scrutinised and certified in England and Wales with the introduction of a statutory medical examiner system.

During this process you may be contacted by the Medical Examiners Office. For further information regarding the deceased you should contact the hospital or GP dealing with the death.

For more information about the death reform certification process please visit the GOV.UK website.

If you need to contact the Coroner’s Office, please call 0114 273 8721 between 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Who can register a death

Usually, a relative or long-term partner (living with the deceased) of the person who has died can register death, but others can also do this. This can be:

• someone present at the death
• a person arranging the funeral
• a personal representative of the deceased (solicitor, family friend or funeral director)
• an official from the hospital or the manager of where the death took place (for example a care home)

How to register a death

Select a date to speak with the registrar, who will help you to make an appointment for registering the death.

What happens next

On your chosen date, the registrar will call you to check the paperwork and the deceased’s details. You don't need to worry about the relevant medical paperwork, as the coroner or medical examiner will send us a copy.

The registrar will then arrange for you to attend the Register Office the following day. This is for you to check and sign the registration paperwork and complete the registration.

If required, at this appointment you will receive the relevant paperwork for the funeral director, the Tell Us Once registration code and any death certificates.

Bereavement support

If you have lost a loved one, talking to someone can help you manage grief, especially with current restrictions on funerals. We have a dedicated helpline for the friends and relatives of the deceased. The service provides:

• one to one telephone support by a qualified worker
• emotional and practical information, guidance and support
• practical help in dealing with healthcare agencies
• local information with regards to current funeral processes

You can call the helpline on 0800 048 5224 or visit listening ear for more support.

You can also find more support from the National Bereavement Service.

Tell Us Once service

When you register a death we will notify our other services and certain Government agencies of the person’s death. This is a free voluntary service and means fewer phone calls, letters or emails for you.

You will be told about Tell Us Once when you meet the registrar. A short Government video explaining the Tell Us Once service can be viewed via YouTube.

Further information about Tell Us Once is available on the GOV.UK website. 
 

Death certificates

Certified copies are £12.50 each at the time of registration.

Copies of certificates may be obtained at a later date for the standard fee of £13.50 each.