You are legally required to register a death within 5 days from when the coroner or medical examiner has passed the relevant paperwork to the Register Office. The registration should take place in the district where the person died.
If the death has been referred to the coroner and you need to contact the Coroner’s Office, please call 0114 273 8721 between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Changes to the death certification process
Regulations introducing changes to the death certification process were laid before Parliament on 15 April 2024 and will come into force on 9 September 2024.
The reforms change the way in which the causes of deaths are scrutinised and certified in England and Wales with the introduction of a statutory medical examiner system.
During this process you may be contacted by the Medical Examiners' Office. For further information regarding the deceased you should contact the hospital or GP dealing with the death.
Who can register a death
Usually, a relative or long-term partner (living with the deceased) of the person who has died can register death, but others can also do this. This can be:
- someone present at the death
- a person arranging the funeral
- a personal representative of the deceased (solicitor, family friend or funeral director)
- an official from the hospital or the manager of where the death took place (for example a care home)
Funeral costs
You should speak to the funeral director arranging the funeral to discuss whether you are liable for any of those costs.
How to register a death
You will receive a call from the coroner and/or medical examiner to discuss the cause of death. They will then send the medical certificate and coroner's report to the Register Office.
After receiving a phone call from the coroner or medical examiner, please allow 30 minutes for the Register Office administration team to add the paperwork to the system.
You can then select a date to speak with the registrar, who will help you to make an appointment for registering the death.
What happens next
On your chosen date, the registrar will call you to check the paperwork and the deceased’s details.
The registrar will then arrange for you to attend the Register Office the following day. This is for you to check and sign the registration paperwork and complete the registration.
If required, at this appointment you will receive the relevant paperwork for the funeral director and any death certificates.
You will also receive a registration code for the Tell Us Once service. Tell Us Once means that when you register a death, we will notify our other services and certain government agencies of the person’s death. This is a free voluntary service and means fewer phone calls, letters or emails for you.
Please ensure you are available the day after your phone call with the registrar before you contact us.
Bereavement support
If you have lost a loved one, talking to someone can help you manage grief, especially with current restrictions on funerals. We have a dedicated helpline for the friends and relatives of the deceased. The service provides:
- one to one telephone support by a qualified worker
- emotional and practical information, guidance and support
- practical help in dealing with healthcare agencies
- local information with regards to current funeral processes
You can call the helpline on 0800 048 5224 or visit listening ear for more support.
You can also find more support from the National Bereavement Service.
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday), 9am to 10am (only). Please contact the hospital or GP dealing with the death.
Death certificates
Certified copies are £12.50 each at the time of registration.
Copies of certificates may be obtained at a later date for the standard fee of £13.50 each.