Registering a Death in the UK: What to Bring, Where to Go (2026)

In England and Wales, a death must be registered within 5 days. In Scotland, the deadline is 8 days. In Northern Ireland, it is 5 days. The clock starts from the date of death, not the date you received the medical certificate.

If the coroner is involved (for example, because the cause of death is unknown or the death was sudden), the registration may be delayed. The coroner's office will advise you on when registration can proceed. In some cases, the coroner will register the death themselves, and you will not need to attend the register office.

If you cannot register within the 5-day deadline (for example, because you are waiting for the medical examiner or because no appointment is available), contact the register office to let them know. They will usually extend the period. You will not be penalised for a short delay caused by circumstances beyond your control.

The following people can register a death:

• + A relative of the deceased (this is the most common)
• + Someone who was present at the death
• + An official from the hospital or care home where the death occurred
• + The person arranging the funeral (if none of the above are available)
• + A person who found the body (if the death was at home and no relative is available)

You do not need to be the next of kin to register a death. If you are not a relative but were present at the death or are arranging the funeral, you can register. The registrar may ask about your relationship to the deceased and your reason for registering.

You should register the death at the register office for the area where the death occurred. You can find your nearest register office at GOV.UK or by calling your local council.

If it is more convenient, you can register at a different register office. However, this means the paperwork has to be forwarded to the correct district, which adds a few working days. The funeral cannot proceed until the correct district has processed the registration and issued the burial or cremation certificate.

Most register offices require you to book an appointment. Call the office or visit the council website to book. Same-day appointments are sometimes available, but in busy areas you may need to wait a day or two. If the 5-day deadline is approaching and you cannot get an appointment, call the office and explain the situation.

You must bring the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). This is the green form issued by the doctor or hospital. Without it, the registrar cannot proceed.

You should also bring (if available):

• + The deceased's birth certificate
• + Their marriage or civil partnership certificate
• + Their NHS medical card or number
• + Their passport or driving licence (as proof of identity)
• + Their National Insurance number
• + Details of their occupation and employer (current or most recent)
• + Details of any pension or benefits they were receiving from the DWP

Do not worry if you do not have all of these. The only essential document is the MCCD. The registrar can work with whatever information you have. If you are missing something, they will tell you whether it is needed and how to provide it later.

The appointment typically takes about 30 minutes. The registrar will be sympathetic and will guide you through the process. They will ask you the following information about the person who has died:

• + Full name (and maiden name if applicable)
• + Date and place of birth
• + Last address
• + Occupation (current or most recent)
• + Marital status
• + If married: the date of birth and occupation of the surviving spouse
• + Whether they were receiving a state pension or any benefits
• + Their NHS number (if known)

The registrar will check the information with you and enter it into the register. You will be asked to verify that the details are correct. Once registered, the death cannot be un-registered, so take a moment to check everything.

At the end of the appointment, the registrar will explain the Tell Us Once service and give you a unique reference number. You can complete Tell Us Once at the register office, online, or by phone. See our Tell Us Once guide for the full details.

Death certificates cost £11 each when ordered at registration. If you order them later from the General Register Office (GRO), they cost £11 online or £11 by post (though processing takes longer). We recommend ordering at least 3 to 5 copies at registration. You will need them for:

• + Each bank and building society (most require an original, though some accept a certified copy)
• + The probate application
• + Insurance companies
• + Pension providers
• + The mortgage lender
• + HMRC (if they request one)
• + The Land Registry (for property transfer)

Having multiple copies means you can contact several organisations in parallel instead of sending one copy to one organisation, waiting for it to be returned, and then sending it to the next. This can save weeks. For a detailed breakdown, see our article on how many death certificates you need.

The coroner is involved when the cause of death is unclear, the death was sudden or unnatural, or the person was not seen by a doctor recently. If a post-mortem is ordered, registration is delayed until the coroner releases the paperwork. In most cases, this takes a few days to a couple of weeks. If an inquest is opened, registration may be delayed for longer, but the coroner can issue an interim certificate that allows the funeral to proceed.

If the coroner determines the cause of death, they will either issue a Form 100A (which allows you to register the death in the normal way) or register the death themselves if an inquest has been held. The coroner's office will keep you informed throughout the process.

Since September 2024, all deaths in England and Wales (that are not referred to the coroner) must be reviewed by a medical examiner before the MCCD is issued. The medical examiner is an independent, senior doctor who reviews the cause of death and may contact the bereaved family or the attending doctor with questions.

This process is free and usually takes 1 to 2 working days. It was introduced to improve the accuracy of death registration and to give bereaved families an opportunity to raise concerns about the care the person received. If the medical examiner contacts you, it does not mean anything is wrong. It is a routine part of the process.

Once the medical examiner has approved the cause of death, the MCCD can be issued and you can proceed to register the death.