How do you register a death ?
How and where you can register a death , and the information you will need to provide
A death must be registered within five days from when it occurred . If that is not possible , you must inform the Register Ofice . The registration must take place in the District where the death occurred .
Registering a death will take approximately 30 minutes . In Buckinghamshire we operate an appointment system . You can book on-line at
www . buckscc . gov . uk / registrars or telephone the contact centre on 01296 395000 for an appointment .
If a death is reported to the Coroner , the Coroner ’ s Oficers will tell you when you can register the death at the Register Ofice . If an Inquest is to be held , it will not be necessary for the next of kin to attend the Register Ofice to register the death . The Coroner ’ s Oficers will explain this process to you .
If it is dificult for you to get to the appropriate Register Ofice , you may visit your local ofice and make a ‘ death by declaration ’ registration . This death by declaration will , however , result in a delay in the issue of Death Certificates and documentation needed for the funeral arrangements because your local ofice can only take the information from you . They will then send the information to the Register Ofice in the District where the death occurred who will register the death and issue the relevant documentation . You should consider these delays when booking a date for the funeral .
If the death took place abroad , please see page 23 for further information .
Who can register a death ?
The death can be registered by ( in order of preference ):
• A relative
• Someone present at the death
• An occupant of the nursing / residential home or an oficial from the hospital where the death took place
• The person making the arrangements with the Funeral Directors
• The person who found the body
• The person in charge of the body .
Most deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased . If no relative is available to register the death , the Registrar can accept the information from a person who falls into one of the other categories listed above .
What information you will need to give the Registrar about the deceased
• The date and place of death
• Their full name and any other names they are known by , or have been known by , including their maiden surname
• Their date and place of birth
• Their last occupation
• If the deceased was married , widowed or was in a civil partnership , the full name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner
• Their usual address
• The date of birth of a surviving spouse or civil partner
• Details of any public sector pension ( eg . civil service , teacher or armed forces )
• The NHS number of the deceased .
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“ Good empathetic Registrar ”