REGISTRATION
How do you
register a death?
A death must be registered within five days from when it occurred. This
period can be extended in exceptional circumstances and if the coroner
is involved. The registration must take place in the district where the
death occurred.
As Oxfordshire is a single district, this can be at any of the local offices
around the county. Details are listed on page 28. If the death occurred
outside Oxfordshire and it is difficult for you to get to the appropriate
Registration Office, you may visit your local office and declare the
necessary information.
Please be aware that registration by declaration may result in a delay in
the issue of the document needed for the funeral arrangements. If you
need further advice and help please telephone the Registration Service
helpline on 0845 129 5900. Registering the death will take about half
an hour - in Oxfordshire we run an appointment system. You should call
the Registration Service helpline to make an appointment at your most
convenient Registration Office in Oxfordshire, or make an appointment
online at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration
You can only register a death once you have the Medical Cause
of Death Certificate from the doctor or, in the case of a death
reported to the coroner, confirmation from the coroner’s office
that the relevant paperwork has been issued to us. If you would like
information on deaths that happen abroad, please visit the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) website for further information
www.fco.gov.uk
Who can register a death?
The death can be registered by:
• a relative of the deceased
• someone who was present at the death
• an occupant of the nursing/residential home/official from the
hospital where the death took place
• the person making the funeral arrangements
• the person who found the body
• the person in charge of the body.
What information
will you need to
give the Registrar
about the
deceased?
• he date and place of death
t
• heir full name and any
t
other names they are
known by, or have been
known by, including their
maiden name of a woman
who has been married
• heir date and place of birth
t
• heir last occupation (if
t
the person was married,
widowed or had formed a
civil partnership, the full
name and occupation of
their spouse or civil partner)
• their usual address
• he date of birth of a
t
surviving spouse or civil
partner
• etails of any public sector
d
pension, e.g. civil service,
teacher or armed forces.
Most deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. The Registrar
would normally only allow one of the other people listed above to
register the death if there were no relatives available.
5
ADVICE AND HELPLINE: 0845 129 5900