Death Registration
Who can register a death?
Only certain people are legally qualified to act as an informant when registering a death. The following is a list of people who may register a death, in order of preference.
In all cases
1. Someone who was present at the death, defined as being in the same building at the time of death or perhaps finding the deceased.
2. A relative of the deceased, defined as someone related by blood or by marriage or by law. For example mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother (and the same in-law and the same as related by marriage such as step-son); aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin (and the same as related by marriage); wife, husband and adopted children.
3. If no relative is available, then who can register depends on where the death took place.
Deaths in a Rest Home, Nursing Home or Hospital
4. The Occupier of the Home or Hospital may register if he or she knew of the death.
5. Another person living at the Rest Home or Nursing Home may register if he or she knew of the death.
6. The person making the decision on the funeral arrangements may register. (Please note this is not always the same person as the executor of the will).
Deaths elsewhere
7. Someone who finds a body may register the death
8. A person in charge of a body may register
9. The person making the decision on the funeral arrangements may register. (Please note this is not always the same person as the executor of the will).
The majority of deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. If you are in any doubt, please contact staff at the Register Office who will be happy to clarify any confusion.
If English is not the informant’s first language and help is needed with registering the death, it would be helpful for an English speaking friend to accompany them to the Register Office and act as interpreter. However, the informant must register the death personally as a friend cannot sign the register instead of them.
The documents and certificates issued
You will receive two documents free of charge plus a folder to keep the documents in.
1. Certificate for burial or cremation
This is usually a Green form which should be passed to your funeral director. A funeral cannot proceed until this form is given to the burial authority such as the priest or vicar or crematorium.
Where a post-mortem has taken place, a yellow Certificate for Cremation (Cert E) will usually be issued directly from the coroner to your funeral director. Sometimes the coroner delivers it to the registrar who, if a cremation is taking place, can pass it on to you so that you can deliver it to your funeral director.
2. Certificate for applicable Social Security benefits (BD8)
This white form must be filled in by the informant and returned to the deceased's local Department of Social Security office. The form serves a dual purpose; details of the death are given on one side and the other side is the application for relevant claim forms. See the FAQ
Where do I send the BD8 form which is issued at the death registration?
3. Death certificates
A death certificate is an officially certified copy of the deceased's entry in the Register of Deaths. Each death certificate must be paid for and each certificate paid for is an original. You may need a death certificate for the will or for any pension claims, insurance policies, to close bank or building society accounts or premium bonds.
For our up-to-date certificate fees, click on
Certificate Fees. You will be charged for a
Certified Copy Certificate at time of registration. Please Note: The fee for a death certificate rises as soon as your appointment is over.
4. Booklet
The Registrar will also provide a useful booklet compiled by the Department for Work and Pensions called
What to do after a death in England and Wales.