What to do first

The death must be registered by the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths for the sub-district in which it occurred. You can find the address in the phone book under REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES, or from the doctor, local council, post office or police station. Check when the registrar will be available and 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 (see the section on ‘the coroner’ for more information).

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).

The information for registration may be given to any registrar in England and Wales. You will need to attend your chosen registrar’s office to make a declaration of the particulars of the deceased.

The declaration will then be forwarded to the registrar for the sub-district where the death took place, where it will be registered. There may be some delay in certificates being issued as this cannot be done until the death has been registered.