How to register a death

The death must be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the sub-district in which it occurred. Check when the registrar will be available and to find out whether only you need to go along. It may be that someone other than you will be needed to give information for the death to be registered.

If the death has been referred to the coroner, it cannot be registered until the registrar has received authority from the coroner to do so.

If the death has not been referred to the coroner, go to the registrar as soon as possible.

The death must be registered within five days (unless the registrar says this period may be exceeded).

When you go to the registrar you should take all these:

• the Medical Certificate of the cause of death
• the deceased’s medical card, if possible
• any pension order book, certificate, or document relating to any pension or allowance that the deceased was receiving from public funds.
• the Pink Form (form 100), if one has been given to you by the coroner
• the deceased’s birth and marriage certificates, if available
• life insurance policies, or the names of the insurance companies involved and the names of the proposers of the policies.

You should tell the registrar:

• the date and place of death
• the deceased’s last (usual) address
• the deceased’s first names and surname (and the maiden name where appropriate)
• the deceased’s date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK, and country if born abroad)
• the deceased’s occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse, and of previous spouses (if appropriate)
• whether the deceased was getting a pension or allowance from public funds
• if the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower.

The registrar will give you:

• a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (known as the Green Form) unless the coroner has given you an Order for Burial (form 101) or a Certificate for Cremation (form E). These give permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made. It should be taken to the funeral director so that the funeral can be held.
• a Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD 8(rev)). This is for Social Security purposes only. Read the information on the back of the certificate. If any of it applies, fill in the certificate and send or give it to your Social Security office.
• leaflets about widows’ benefits and income tax for widows , where appropriate.