How to register a death

Broadoak Independent Funeral Service

When someone dies there is often much to do and very little help to guide you in the right direction. We hope our step-by-step list helps:

If the person dies at home or in a nursing home, usually a doctor will have certified death
The family need the Medical Certificate of Death, which the Doctor may leave with you or can be collected from the surgery. You will need this to register the death. At the present time due to the Covid restrictions the medical Certificate of Death is emailed to the registrars.
If the person died in hospital or a hospice the Medical Certificate of Death can be collected from there and taken to the registrars. This again will currently be emailed directly to the registrars.
Next you need to make an appointment at the registrars, in the town where the death occurred. At the present time this is a telephone appointment.
If you have the Medical Card and the Birth Certificate of the person who has died this will help the registrar, but is not essential if you cannot find it. You’ll be asked to give the following information to the registrars to register the death:

The persons name at the time of death
Any previous surnames they have held, including maiden name
Their date and place of birth
Their most recent address
Their most recent occupation
The full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving spouse or civil partner
If they were in receipt of any state pension or benefits

Once you have registered the death, the registrar will issue you:

A Registrars Certificate for Burial/Cremation (green form) to be given to the Funeral Director, as this gives permission for the person who has died to be buried or cremated.
A form for the Department of Works & Pensions (also known as the white form) is used to cancel any pensions or state benefits the person who has died was in receipt of.
A copy of the Death Certificate is given as legal proof of death and it often required to settle the estate or any accounts of the person who has died (there is a charge for any additional copies you may require).

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