Registering A Death
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.
Who can register a death?
A death should be registered by a relative of the person who died. It can also be registered by someone who was present when the person died.
If the person who died has no relatives, or they're not available, there are other people who can register the death. This includes someone who was present when the person died. The full list of the other people who can do it is slightly different for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If you are not sure about who can register the death, it's best to call your local register office and check with them.
What you need to do:
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:
birth certificate Council Tax bill driving licence marriage or civil partnership certificate NHS medical card passport proof of address (such as a utility bill)
Ask the register office what to do if you do not have them.
You’ll need to tell the registrar:
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
For more information, please visit the Goverment Website: