Registering a Death
Listen- How do I register a death?
- Who should attend the Register Office?
- What will the Registrar need to know?
- What documents do I get when I register a death?
- What do I need if I want to bury or cremate a body abroad?
- How do I register a still-birth?
An appointment is required to register a death.
By law, a death must be registered within 5 days of its occurrence. However, this period can be extended under certain circumstances.
You can register at the Register Office in the district where the death occurred, or you can go to any Register Office in England and Wales and make a declaration of the particulars required. However, if you opt for a declaration, there will be a slight delay in receiving certificates and paperwork, as these will be posted from the receiving Register Office.
In certain circumstances, a death will have to be referred to a Coroner. He may do one of three things:
- He may decide that no action is necessary
- He may decide to hold a post-mortem examination, in which case the cause of death will be notified directly to the Registrar. (This may delay registration by a day or two)
- He may decide to hold an inquest.
The Coroners Office, or the Registrar will advise you what to do in these circumstances. The Coroner for Berkshire is Mr Peter Bedford. His telephone number is 01189 375193.
Who should attend the Register Office?
One of the following people may register a death:-
- A relative of the deceased
- A person present at the death
- The occupier of the house or residential home where the death occurred (if there is no known relative who is able to register)
- The person who is arranging the funeral
If you will require any special assistance at your appointment, please tell us at the time of booking the appointment.
What will the Registrar need to know?
It may help you to prepare for your visit to know that the Registrar will require the following information:-
- The medical certificate of cause of death from the doctor, if a coroner is not involved.
- The date and place of death.
- The full name of the deceased (and maiden surname if appropriate).
- The date and place of birth of the deceased ( a birth certificate would be helpful).
- The deceased's occupation, and the full name and occupation of their spouse.
- The deceased's usual home address.
- Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds.
- The date of birth of the deceased's spouse, if alive.
- The NHS medical card number for the deceased. However, please do not delay registration if this is not available.
The Registrar will ask you some questions to obtain the above information, and then will print out a copy of the entry for you to check. It is most important that this is checked carefully, as mistakes can easily be rectified at this point. Once the page is signed the Registrar will issue the necessary paperwork.
What documents do I get when I register a death?
- A green form (Form 9), to given to the funeral director.
- A white form (Form 344) to be sent or taken to the DSS together with any state pension or benefit books, this will stop any payments.
- Certified copies of the register entry, these will cost £3.50 each (or £7.00 each after the registration. the fee increases to £9.00 once the register becomes full.
- Booklets and information leaflets where appropriate.
- The Registrar can issue notification to Government Pension Offices if necessary.
- A member of the bereavement team will help you with notifying various government departments.
The Registrar will have several booklets, which may be useful to you, please ask if you need help or advice. We all appreciate this is a difficult time, and will do our utmost to make the formalities easier for you.
If you discover an error at some time after the registration, however long it may be since registration, it should be possible to make a formal correction. Please contact the register office with details of the error, and we will give you advice regarding making the correction.
When making an appointment to register a death, please be aware that some areas of Crowthorne fall within the Wokingham Registration District, and most areas of Ascot fall within the Windsor and Maidenhead District. Please check with the Registrar which office is involved.
What do I need if I want to bury or cremate a body abroad?
Before a body can be removed from England and Wales, the Coroner must issue an authorisation. The forms that need to be completed can usually be obtained from the Funeral Director, who will normally liaise directly with the Coroner's Office. However, if you have difficulty obtaining the necessary documents your local register office will assist.
How do I register a still-birth?
As this is a difficult subject to cover, and several documents may be required, please phone the Register Office for personal advice for your particular circumstances.
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