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Two Together: Save £100!
Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
Buy now, pay in January
Buy your funeral plan today and pay in January for peace of mind this Christmas. Click here for full T&Cs.
10 minute read
When someone close to us passes away, it’s important to understand how to register a death in the UK and the steps involved. It’s one of the first legal steps that must be taken and has a formal process. We understand that dealing with the death of a loved one is an emotional and challenging time, and understanding what happens when you register a death can help ease some of the stress. That’s why we’ve put together this article to help.
Registering a death is a legal requirement in the UK. It is the formal process of recording someone’s death with the government. The next of kin must submit the necessary documentation before the registrar issues the death certificate. The registrar will also record the death with the local authority.
Although it may be an emotional process to handle after your loss, hopefully, it shouldn’t be too stressful for you. The appointment itself is mostly straightforward with only a few steps. If you do have any issues, the registrar, local council or your funeral director will be able to help you.
A death certificate is an essential legal document needed to manage the affairs of those who have passed. It serves as official proof of death, allowing family members to handle the estate of their loved one, close bank accounts, claim life insurance policies, and handle pensions or benefits. Additionally, the death must be registered before a funeral can take place and it is among the first steps to handle when someone dies.
In the UK, there are time limits in which a death must be registered after someone has passed. In Northern Ireland, Wales and England, registration must be completed within five days of the death occurring. Whereas in Scotland, a death must be registered within eight days.
These time limits can be extended if a coroner is involved, such as when the cause of death is unclear or if an inquest is needed. In these cases, the registrar will guide you through any delays and the coroner will issue any necessary documents once their examination is concluded.
It’s important to act promptly to avoid legal complications. Failure to register a death within the legal timeframe can result in fines or legal action.
The person who registers the death is usually the next of kin, such as a spouse, child, or parent. The person who registers the death may be referred to as the ‘the informant’.
Ideally, a close relative of the deceased should perform the registration. If the family is unavailable, individuals who were present at the time of death, those responsible for arranging the funeral, hospital or care home staff or the occupier of the premises where the death occurred are all eligible to register the death.
If you are unsure if you are able to register the death, you might want to confirm with the registry office before setting up an appointment.
In most cases, death registration is carried out at the local registrar’s office. You can complete the registration in a different area, however, this may delay the process as the documents will need to be forwarded between offices. It is recommended that you register in the area where the person passed as this allows for a much faster experience.
To begin, you’ll need to make an appointment with the registrar and bring along key documents. The registrar will guide you through the process and ask for information before they handle the next steps. The whole appointment will usually take 30-60 minutes.
Currently, deaths in the UK cannot be registered online. While the process must be completed in person, some local authorities will use an online booking system. If your office does not have this, you may need to book the appointment over the phone or in person.
While the registration itself must be done in person, other services related to notifying government departments, such as the Tell Us Once service can be completed online.
In the UK, registering a death is free of charge. However, you will need to pay for copies of the death certificate, which may be necessary for legal and financial matters such as closing bank accounts or administering the deceased’s estate.
The cost of a certified death certificate varies slightly across the UK. As of October 2024, the fees are:
You may want to purchase several copies when you register the death, as photocopies are not usually accepted by banks or other institutions, and obtaining additional certificates later may take longer and incur extra fees.
The most important document when registering a death is the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). There were some changes to this registration system in September 2024 but typically this is what you can expect.
When someone passes away, their death is verified by a medical professional who has attended to them in their life. The medical professional will then create the MCCD, include the cause of death and sign the document. The MCCD is then scrutinised by a medical examiner to ensure it is correct before it is passed directly to the registrar’s office, allowing the family to report the death.
While the MCCD is the only document required to register a death, it may be helpful to bring the following documents to your appointment too:
Don’t worry if you cannot find all these documents. The registrar can still proceed with the registration as long as the MCCD is available and they can guide you through the next steps.
Although it is not legally required to bring the birth certificate of the deceased when registering a death, it can be useful. A birth certificate can help confirm the identity of the person who has passed and ensure all details are accurate. However, it is not a strict requirement and other forms of identification can be used like a passport.
Once the death is registered, the registrar will provide the necessary documents so that you can organise the next steps such as the funeral. These documents include:
A death certificate includes key information about the person who has passed, such as:
If you need additional copies of the death certificate, you can order them through multiple services:
Please note that you may need a GRO index reference number in order to get more copies of a death certificate.
If a death is unexpected or unexplained, the coroner may be called to investigate (or the procurator fiscal in Scotland). This can sometimes delay the death registration and funeral arrangements, subject to how much investigation is needed. When a coroner is involved, they will determine whether a post-mortem or inquest is necessary.
If the cause of death is clear to the coroner, they will then issue a certificate to the registrar, allowing the death to be registered.
If a post-mortem is required, this may take a bit longer. During the investigation, the coroner may release the body for burial or cremation if they have all the samples they need. Alternatively, you may have to wait until the inquest has been completed. You can request an interim death certificate from the coroner while you are waiting for the investigation to close. This certificate can be used to manage legal and financial affairs until the final death certificate is issued.
Many families choose to work with funeral directors, who can provide valuable support during the registration process and arranging a funeral. They often help with gathering documents, submitting paperwork, and ensuring everything is completed correctly. Their expertise can ease the burden on bereaved families at this difficult time.
Alternatively, you can arrange these aspects yourself if you wish to organise a DIY funeral. At Aura, we understand that some people like to handle the details themselves. However, our team of experts called the Aura Angels are on hand whenever you need them. They can help as little or as much as you like with organising funerals, administrative tasks and emotional support.
Once the death of your loved one has been registered, you can proceed to plan their funeral. This can be any farewell you wish like a burial or cremation and include a service, memorial or wake that reflects the life you are honouring.
It is difficult to say how long planning a funeral will take as each person’s send-off can be quite unique with different factors to coordinate. That’s why we recommend getting help from a funeral director or talking to your loved ones about their funeral wishes before they pass.
You may find instructions in their will or in the form of a prepaid funeral plan. If there are no instructions, you will need to find a funeral provider yourself.
If you need any help at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Aura. We provide both unattended and attended direct cremations for those who have recently passed and for those planning ahead for the future. We care for you and your family with our dedicated team of funeral experts known as the Aura Angels. They provide every family who turns to us with compassionate care, handling everything from paperwork and service details to emotional support when you need it most.
