Death - registering
A death must be registered in the district where it occurred.Deaths should be registered within five days, although this can be extended to 14 days in some circumstances.
A close relative should register the death, but an executor or friend arranging the funeral can also perform this duty. The register office will give advice as to who is eligible to register a death. If a suitable informant is unable to attend the register office in the district where the death occurred, a declaration can be made at any register office in England or Wales. The same information is needed if informants choose to make a declaration.
Before a death can be registered informants must collect the Medical Cause of Death certificate from the doctor, hospital or nursing home.If the coroner decides to hold a post mortem, informants must wait to register the death until the coroner has issued his certificate to the registrar in the district where the death happened.
If there is an inquest, the coroner will issue his certificate to the registrar, who will register the death. No informant needs to register a death if there has been an inquest. The following information are required when registering a death:
- date and place of death
- full name of the deceased at the time of death, including any other names by which they were known and the maiden surname if the deceased was a woman who had married
- date and place of birth. If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse is also needed
- occupation. If the deceased was a married woman or widow, the name and occupation of her husband is also needed
- usual address of the deceased
- whether the deceased received a pension or allowance from public funds, including state retirement pension
When the death has been registered the registrar will issue a green Form 9, which gives allows the body to be buried or cremated. This form must be given to the undertakers as a funeral cannot happen until they have the form.
If there has been a post mortem the coroner will give authority to allow the body to be cremated and the registrar will only issue a Form 9 if there is to be a burial. If an inquest is held the coroner will issue his authority in respect of a burial or cremation.
Informants will also be issued with Form BD 8, which must be completed and sent to the Department of Social Security with any pension book or any other allowance book relating to any benefits the deceased received.
Email this pageLast modified by: Mike Godleman on 17/03/2009