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WHAT TO DO WHEN DEATH OCCURS
Registering The Death
When someone passes away in England or Wales, the death has to be registered within FIVE days of the occurrence in the district where the death occurred.
Since March 2020, due to the issues presented by COVID-19, remote registration (telephone) has been, and remains in, effect.
The G.P. responsible for the person who has died will provide the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (MCCD) or Certificate of Still-birth and inform the Registrar or if the death occurred in a hospital, the Medical Examiner will inform the Registrar.
The doctor will then send a copy of the MCCD to the registrar electronically, also copying in ‘The Informant’s’ details. This is to ensure that the registrar receives a copy of the MCCD, without which the death cannot be registered and the funeral service cannot proceed. It also serves with the issue of ‘Death Certificates’ for legal and other purposes.
To legally register the death you have to be either; a relative, a person present at the death, the occupier of the premises where death occurred, or the person who is arranging the funeral. This can’t be the funeral director.
The hospital doctor issuing the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death, may ask you to consider a hospital post-mortem?
They will discuss this with you and explain the reasons.
Please note that only certain family members can give consent to allow this to take place
A hospital post-mortem does not normally delay funeral arrangements and registration of the death can still take place. Further advice will be given by your funeral director and the hospital staff. If the doctor certifying death has sought a ‘Coroner’s Referral’ or if a post-mortem is required, the relevant papers will be sent by HM Coroner’s Office directly to the relevant district Register Office.
The Registrar will subsequently contact you and send out copies of ‘Death Certificates’ you request via the postal system. ‘Death Certificates’ are currently £11.00 each and the fee is payable at the time of registration. Please be advised that it is useful to obtain documents or information relating to, the deceased’s Drivers Licence; Passport; National Insurance Number; Marriage and Birth Certificates in anticipation of this call. It may be up to five days before the registrar contacts you.
N.B. You will need to obtain copies of the ‘Death Certificate’ for a number of purposes. Individual circumstances vary but you will need copies for insurances; bank accounts, private pensions; funeral plan providers etc..
Information you will need to provide:
You will receive:
(This can be done at any stage, prior to the Registration for example) N.B. When registering the death the Registrar will ask for details of your chosen funeral director.
You nominated funeral director will be issued with:
This form is the AUTHORITY for the funeral to take place. The funeral director must submit this form to the relevant authority at least 48 hours prior to the funeral.
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