Register a death
Who can register a death?
The death can be registered by the person sorting out the funeral, which can be:
- A relative of the deceased. A relative is defined as someone connected to the deceased via blood, marriage, civil partnership or adoption.
- Partner of the deceased.
- Someone present at the time of death
- The person arranging the funeral with Funeral Directors
- Representative of the deceased
- Owner / Occupier.
If you are unsure if you are able to register, please contact us on 0300 111 8001 where a member of the team will be able to assist you.
When can I register a death?
A death must be registered by law within five calendar days of the Registration Service receiving the medical certificate cause of death or Coroner’s instruction following the closure of an investigation.
From Monday 9 September 2024, all deaths which are not investigated by a Coroner, must be reviewed by an NHS Medical Examiner before registration can take place.
A Medical Examiner’s Officer or a member of their team, will contact you directly and advise when the Medical Certificate Cause of Death will be issued to the Registration Service for an appointment to be made.
A Registration Officer will contact you once the Medical Certificate has been received and triaged to arrange an appointment. If we have been provided with your email address by the Medical Examiners Office, you will also receive an email from us to invite you to book your appointment.
It is important to note, we are unable to proceed with booking an appointment until we have received the medical certificate from the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Where can I book an appointment?
Registration must take place in the district where the death has occurred.
If you are unable to attend an office in Staffordshire, you can visit your local registration office and complete a death declaration appointment. Following your appointment, the information is shared via email with us, for registration to be completed, and all documentation included certificates ordered will be posted to you.
Book online or call us on 0300 111 8001.
What happens during the appointment?
During the appointment, the Registration Officer will ask you to provide the following information:
- Date if death
- Place of death
- Full name and surname of the deceased, including any previous names or current names they may have or do use.
- Maiden surname of a woman who has been married or entered into a civil partnership.
- Place of birth
- Occupation
- Marital status
- Spouse / Civil partners full name and surname and occupation
- Deceased’s usual address
The Registration Officer will ask you to read and check the information recorded on the register page is accurate before signing. It is essential all information recorded, including spellings / dates / places is correct. As this is a legal document, if any errors are identified once the document has been signed you will need to apply for a formal correction, which will incur a charge of up to £99.00.
Whilst not essential to the registration, to prevent incorrect information being recorded, it is beneficial to bring birth certificates, marriage or civil partnership certificates to the appointment.
What documents will I get from the registrar?
You will receive the following documentation during your appointment:
- a certificate for Burial or Cremation (‘Green Form’) allowing for the body to be buried or for a cremation application to be made. If the deceased is to be buried or cremated outside of England or Wales the coroner will issue the necessary forms.
The Coroner will provide the certificate for burial or cremation if they have completed an investigation into the cause of death.
You can buy one or more death certificates when attending the death registration. Certificates are £12.50.
These are certified copies of the original register entry and will be needed by the executor or administrator when sorting out the deceased persons affairs.
Anything that has to be closed down or claimed will need a certificate.
How do I register a death that happened abroad?
The process of registering a death that happened abroad varies depending on which country the person died in.
For information about deaths that happened abroad, please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
How do I register an early release death?
A service is available for families who need to register a death urgently as their culture or religion require them to bury a deceased relative within 24 hours of the death.
Any relative of the deceased who requires this service can use it if they have been issued with a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death by a certifying doctor. Please be aware the death must have occurred in Staffordshire.
To contact the Emergency Registration Service call 07815 827793 between the hours of 9am and 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays or on bank holidays.