Registering a death

White Lillies You normally need to register a person's death within five days.

All of our Registration Offices operate an appointment only service. To make an appointment please phone 0845 603 2859 between the hours of 08.30 - 17.00 Monday to Friday or book your Death registration appointment online.

This page explains when you can register and what information the Registrar will require of you.

Where and when to register a death

A death must be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the district in which the death occurred. (This may not be the same district in which the deceased had his/her usual address). If it is not convenient for you to visit the Register Office for the district in which the death took place, you can go to any other Register Office in England and Wales to make a declaration of the particulars required for the registration. The Registrar will then send those details to that Register Office, who will then send the appropriate paperwork in the post to you.

This may cause delays for you in organising the funeral.

If you are unsure in which district the death occurred please telephone 0845 603 2859 for advice. A death should be registered within 5 days unless the Registrar says that this period may be extended.

To prevent unnecessary waiting all Registration Offices operate an appointment system. Please telephone to make an appointment as soon as the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued to you by the doctor of the deceased, who may be either the general practitioner or a hospital doctor. Please take this certificate with you when you attend your chosen Registration Office.

Coroners

In certain circumstances the death will have to be referred to the Coroner by the doctor or by the Registrar. The Coroner may do one of three things:

He may decide that no action is necessary and inform the Registrar accordingly.
He may decide to hold a post-mortem examination, in which case a pink Form 100 will be issued usually direct to the Registrar instead of the medical certificate.
He may decide to hold an inquest. The Coroner's Office or Registrar will advise you what to do in these circumstances.

How to register a death

It is preferred that a relative of the deceased registers the death. If there are no relatives then it is possible for other persons to register. Such persons may be someone present at the death, a senior administrator of the establishment in which the death occurred, or the person instructing the funeral director.

You should allow approximately 45 minutes for the registration. However, in some cases the registration may take longer. The Registrar will require the following information:-

The date and place of death
The full name of the deceased (and maiden name where appropriate)
The date and place of birth of the deceased
The deceased's occupation and the full names and occupation of the spouse if the deceased was married or widowed
The deceased's usual address
Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds
If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the spouse
Either National Health Service number of the deceased, if known, or the medical card itself, if available, should be handed to the Registrar. Please do not delay registration if the medical card is not available.

After the death has been registered the Registrar will issue to you two certificates:

A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (known as the green form) is for you to take to the funeral director so that the funeral can take place. In some circumstances this is issued by the Coroner.
A Certificate of Registration of Death (Form BD8) is for DWP purposes. Please read the back of the form in your own time. If any information applies please complete it and return it to your local DWP Office.

Standard Death Certificates

You may also need to purchase some death certificates. A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. These may be required by banks, building societies, solicitors or for pension claims and some insurance claims. You may wish to ask for several copies of the standard death certificate at the time of registration as the price may increase if you need one at a later date.

Probate

A booklet 'How to obtain probate - Form PA2' forms part of the package provided to applicants when applying for probate and is obtainable from the following telephone number.

Probate Helpline 0845 3020 900

The necessary forms are also available via the Court Service website www.courtservice.gov.uk/ Click on 'Forms and Guidance' and use the dropdown menu to locate probate.

Registration Offices:-
To book an appointment please call 0845 603 2859

Worcestershire County Council have developed a Bereavement Booklet (322 KB) which may be useful.