Registering a death

England and Wales

After someone dies, their doctor must confirm the death before contacting the medical examiner. This can take a few days. The medical examiner, a senior doctor who was not involved in the person's care, then checks the cause of death. (GOV.UK)

The medical examiner's office will contact you to explain the cause of death and answer any questions about it or about the care the person had. Speaking to them is voluntary. (GOV.UK)

Wait until the medical examiner's office confirms you can register the death. Then register within 5 days, including weekends and bank holidays. If you need more than 5 days, tell the register office straight away. (GOV.UK)

Afterwards you'll get a certificate for burial or cremation, often called 'the green form'. Give it to your funeral director, crematorium or burial authority. You must do this before the funeral can take place. (GOV.UK)

Scotland

Register the death within 8 days of the death, where possible. It may take longer, for example if the death has been referred to the procurator fiscal. (mygov.scot)

You can register the death if you are related to the person, were there when they died, are their executor or solicitor, or lived with them if they died at home. (mygov.scot)

The registrar needs the medical certificate of cause of death. This is normally sent to the registrar by a doctor, but you will need to know which registration office it was sent to. (mygov.scot)

The registrar gives you a certificate of registration of death to show the funeral director. There is no charge for this. (mygov.scot)

The funeral cannot go ahead until the death has been registered. If the funeral has to take place within a certain time, contact the registration office as soon as possible to ask for advance registration. (mygov.scot)

Northern Ireland

A death should be registered within five days, except deaths referred to the coroner. It can be registered at any district registration office in Northern Ireland. (nidirect)

Most deaths are registered by a relative. The registrar will usually contact you by telephone, and registration can be done over the phone or at the registration office. (nidirect)

Once the death is registered, the registrar issues a Certificate for Burial or Cremation to the funeral director. Death certificates cost £8.00 per copy. (nidirect)

If the death has been reported to a coroner

The documents you need to register the death may be different. (GOV.UK)

In Northern Ireland, funeral arrangements should not be made until the coroner has given consent. (nidirect)

Telling government: Tell Us Once

A registrar will explain Tell Us Once when you register the death. It lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. (GOV.UK)

You can use it if the person was living in England, Scotland or Wales, but not if they were living in Northern Ireland. Use it within 28 days of getting your reference number. (GOV.UK)

Sources

• GOV.UK: What to do after someone dies (Last updated 2 December 2024; read 28 September 2026)
• mygov.scot: Register a death (No date shown; read 28 September 2026)
• nidirect: Registering a death with the district registrar (No date shown; read 28 September 2026)