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How to Register a Death in the UK: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Registering a death is one of the first official things you'll need to do after someone dies, and for most people it's completely unfamiliar territory. The good news is that it's a straightforward process, the registrar will guide you through it, and once it's done you'll have the documents you need to take care of everything else.
This guide explains exactly what to expect: who can register the death, how long you have, what to bring, what it costs, and what you'll walk away with. Take it at your own pace — there's no need to read it all at once.
What needs to happen before you can register
When someone dies, a doctor completes a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (often shortened to MCCD). Since September 2024, every death in England and Wales is also reviewed by an independent Medical Examiner — a senior doctor who wasn't involved in the person's care. This review is a routine safeguard to make sure the cause of death is accurate, and the Medical Examiner may call you to confirm a few details or answer any questions you have.
Once the Medical Examiner has approved the certificate, it's sent directly to the register office. You don't need to collect or deliver anything yourself. The register office will then contact you, or you can call them, to book your registration appointment.
If the death has been referred to a coroner, the process is slightly different — we explain what that means further down.
How long do you have to register a death?
In England and Wales, you must register a death within five days. This five-day period usually begins once the register office has received the approved medical certificate, so don't worry if a day or two passes while the Medical Examiner completes their review.
In Scotland, you have eight days. In Northern Ireland, the limit is five days.
If a coroner is involved, these deadlines are paused until the coroner has finished their enquiries and released the necessary paperwork. You won't be penalised for a delay that's outside your control.
If you're struggling to register within the time limit for any reason, contact your local register office. They deal with these situations every day and will help you find a way forward.
Who can register a death?
A death must be registered in person by someone known as the "informant." This is usually a close relative, but it doesn't have to be the nearest one or the eldest child.
Any of the following people can register a death:
A relative of the person who died. Someone who was present at the death. The person who owns or manages the building where the death happened (for example, a care home manager). The person who is arranging the funeral — though this does not include the funeral director themselves.
One important point that catches many people out: an unmarried partner is not automatically treated as a "relative" for registration purposes. In many cases they can still register the death, but if you're in this situation it's worth calling the register office first to confirm.
What documents do you need to register a death?
The register office will already have the medical certificate, so you don't need to bring that. You also don't strictly need to bring identification for the person who died, but it makes the appointment smoother if you can take any of the following that you have to hand:
The deceased's birth certificate. Their marriage or civil partnership certificate. Their NHS medical card or number. Their passport or driving licence. Proof of their address, such as a utility bill. Their National Insurance number (and your own, if they were your spouse or civil partner).
Don't worry if you can't find all of these. The registrar can still register the death without them — they simply help confirm the details.
You'll also be asked to tell the registrar some information about the person who died: their full name and any names they were previously known by, their date and place of birth, their most recent address, their occupation, and details of their spouse or civil partner if they had one.
What actually happens at the appointment?
Most register offices ask you to book an appointment in advance, which you can usually do by phone or through your local council's website. You register at the office for the area where the person died — this may be different from where they lived.
The appointment itself usually takes around 30 minutes. The registrar will go through all the details with you, enter them into the official register, and then ask you to check everything carefully and sign the entry. It's worth taking your time over this check — correcting a death certificate after the fact can be a slow process.
The registrar handles these appointments every single day and understands exactly what you're going through. They'll be patient, clear, and kind. There's nothing you need to prepare or rehearse.
If your situation feels complicated, or you'd simply like a clear plan for everything that comes next, our free personalised guide walks you through it step by step.
What will the registrar give you?
At the end of the appointment, you'll receive the documents that let you take care of everything else. These are:
The death certificate. This is a certified copy of the entry in the register of deaths, and it's the official proof of death that banks, pension providers, insurers, the probate registry, and other organisations will ask for. You can — and should — order several copies at this appointment.
The certificate for burial or cremation. This is often called the "green form." It gives permission for the funeral to go ahead and is usually handed straight to your funeral director. This form is free. (It isn't issued in cases where a coroner is involved — the coroner provides the equivalent paperwork instead.)
Information for the Tell Us Once service. Many register offices will give you a unique reference number for Tell Us Once, a free government service that lets you notify lots of government departments — including HMRC, the DWP, the Passport Office, and the local council — all in one go, rather than contacting each one separately.
How many death certificates do I need?
This is one of the most common questions, and getting it right saves a lot of time later.
Each organisation you need to notify — every bank, building society, pension provider, insurer, and the probate registry — will usually want to see an original certified copy, not a photocopy. Photocopies are generally not accepted for legal and financial purposes.
Because organisations often hold onto a certificate for a while before returning it, it's far quicker to send several at once rather than waiting for one to come back before sending it on. Most families need somewhere between five and ten copies, depending on how many accounts and organisations are involved. For a more complex estate, ten or more is not unusual.
It is cheaper and much faster to order all the copies you need at the registration appointment than to request them later.
How much does a death certificate cost?
In England and Wales, a certified copy of the death certificate costs £11 per copy, whether you order it at the registration appointment or later. (A small number of councils quote £12.50 — your local register office will confirm the exact figure when you book.)
In Scotland, the cost is around £10 per copy at registration, and in Northern Ireland it's around £8 at registration.
If you need extra copies after the appointment, you can order them from the register office where the death was registered, or from the General Register Office (GRO) online. The GRO's standard service usually arrives within a few working days, with a faster priority service available for an additional fee.
Can you register a death online?
In most cases, no — registration must be done in person, because you need to check and sign the official register entry.
However, some register offices in England and Wales can offer a telephone appointment in certain circumstances, particularly if the informant cannot attend in person due to illness or disability. If getting to the register office in person would be difficult, call your local office and ask what options are available. It's always worth asking.
What happens if the death is reported to the coroner?
A death is referred to a coroner when the cause is unknown, when it was sudden or unexpected, when it happened during an operation, or in certain other circumstances. This is a normal part of the system and doesn't imply that anything was done wrong.
When a coroner is involved, registration is usually paused until their enquiries are complete. The coroner's office will keep you informed and will provide the paperwork needed for the funeral to proceed — so you don't always have to wait for the full investigation to finish before saying goodbye.
If you'd like to understand more about what a coroner does and what an inquest involves, see our guide on sudden death and the coroner's process.
What should you do after registering the death?
Once the death is registered and you have your certificates, you'll be able to move on to the other practical steps. The main ones are usually:
Giving the green form to your funeral director so you can arrange the funeral. Using your Tell Us Once reference to notify government departments. Contacting banks, pensions, and other organisations using your certified copies. Beginning the probate process if it's needed.
There's no single right order, and not everything has to happen at once. Many of these steps can wait until you feel ready.
For a clear overview of everything you need to do when someone dies, see our complete guide.
You don't have to work this out alone
Registering a death is just the first of many things you may need to do in the days and weeks ahead. It can feel like a lot — especially while you're grieving.
That's exactly why we built First48hrs. Answer a few simple questions and we'll give you a personalised, step-by-step guide to your first 48 hours — covering everything from registering the death to arranging the funeral, securing the property, and starting probate. It's clear, calm, and completely free.
This guide was last updated in July 2026. Processes and figures are set by government and can change — for the latest official guidance, see GOV.UK. First48hrs provides information and signposting, not legal or financial advice.
Registering a Death - FAQ's
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