Bereavement Advice

At a difficult time, registering your loved ones passing can seem confusing but we are here to guide you through the process. All deaths are required by law to be registered in the district where death occurs. As soon as possible, you will need to telephone the registrar to make an appointment to see them. This helps you to avoid unnecessary delays and ensures that you attend the correct registrars’ office.

You can begin the funeral arrangements before registering a death. We will be happy to guide you through each stage of registration.

If someone dies in hospital and a post mortem is not required, you will be issued with a medical certificate cause of death and instructed to collect this from the bereavement office. You will need this to complete the registration.

If the person has died at home and the death was expected, their doctors surgery will issue the medical certificate cause of death, you then take this to your appointment at the registrar’s office.

In the case of a sudden death or if a post mortem is required the coroner will instruct you on registration. If there is to be an inquest a temporary interim certificate will be issued. Funeral arrangements can still be made and the funeral can still go ahead even if there is an inquest.

Where to register a death

Who can register a death

• A relative of the deceased, either present at death, or in attendance during the last illness
• A person present at death
• The occupier of the house, or inmate of the house, if they knew of the occurrence of death
• The person arranging the funeral service
• By deposition – if death occurred in a different district, it is possible to send the above-mentioned documents by post to the Registrar of that district. However the time involved in this and waiting for the return of the necessary paperwork also by post could mean a delay before arrangements for the funeral can take place

The registrar will then ask the following questions:

• Full name of the deceased
• Home address of the deceased
• Marital status of the deceased
• Date and place of death
• Last occupation of the deceased
• Maiden name (if applicable) of the deceased. It is not necessary to take the deceased’s birth certificate, although if it is readily available it will provide the Registrar with many basic details. You could be asked for the deceased’s Medical Card, but don’t worry if you cannot find it

The Registrar will give you:

• The certificate for burial or cremation – The Green Form. This is not a Death Certificate and should be handed to your Funeral Director as soon as possible. If the Coroner has been involved, these forms will be sent directly to the Funeral Director.
• A copy of the Entry of Register of Deaths – This is often referred to as the Death Certificate. It is a certified copy of the entry of death, for banks and building societies etc, and copies can be obtained for a small fee. We suggest you get at least 3 copies. Photocopies are usually accepted for retention, but officials usually need to see the original. The funeral director does not need a copy but we would be happy to photocopy this certificate for you.
• DWP FORM SF200 This is only issued for one purpose; to notify the DWP that the death has occurred and should be submitted to the DWP with any relevant papers, i.e. pension’s books or state benefit claim books. On the reverse of the form are a few simple questions to be filled in and then you should take the form to the local branch of the DWP. You can order a Bereavement Benefits pack by phone from your local Job Centre. Plus or download the BB1 claim pack via the website www.direct.gov.uk.