After someone dies, a medical examiner will check the cause of death to make sure it’s accurate.

They will be a senior doctor and they will not have been involved in the care of the person who has died.  

The medical examiner’s office will then contact you to:

• explain the cause of death

• answer any questions you have about this or the healthcare provided to the person before they died

This is voluntary and you do not have to speak to them.

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Registering the death

Who can register a death

When should I register a death

What you need to do

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Click here - Registering the death

You should register the death within 5 days.

Contact a register office to register the death. You can contact any register office but it will be quicker if you use the one in the area where the person died.

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Who can register a death?

A relative should register the death.

If a relative cannot register the death, you can do it if you:

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• were there at the time of death

• are an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in the hospital)

• are in charge of making funeral arrangements

In certain circumstances others, such as the administrator of an elderly persons home can register a death, for advice please contact the Register Office.

 

When should I register a death?

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A death should normally be registered within 5 days unless the Coroner is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
 
It is best to carry out the registration in the district in which the death occurred – this will mean that the documents necessary will be obtained more easily, minimising any delays to the registration.

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What you need to do:

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The register office will tell you what you need to do when you contact them.

The register office may also want to see the person’s:

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• birth certificate

• Council Tax bill

• driving licence

• marriage or civil partnership certificate

• NHS medical card

• passport

• proof of address (such as a utility bill)

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Ask the register office what to do if you do not have them.

You’ll need to tell the registrar:

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• the person’s full name at the time of death

• any names previously used, eg maiden name

• the person’s date and place of birth

• their last address

• their occupation

• the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner

• whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits

 

 

 

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