Registering the death of a loved-one can be an extremely upsetting and emotional experience. If you are concerned about registering a death, please do not worry. Our Registrars have many years of experience in dealing with this sensitive matter and will help you through this difficult task by being both as quick and professional as possible.
The Registrar will see you in private, ask questions about the person who has died and then enter the information on a computer. You will then be asked to check the information and to sign that it is correct. It is important that you check the computerised print out carefully before you sign, making sure there are no spelling mistakes and that the information is correct.
Remember, you can bring a relative or friend with you for support. The appointment will last between 20-30 minutes.
After you've read the information below, you may also find our Blackpool Bereavement Guide useful and also the Directgov information - What to do after a death useful.
1. WHERE TO REGISTER.
All deaths in England and Wales must be registered within five days by the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the sub-district in which the death occurred; therefore where a death is registered is dependent on where a person died and not on where they were living.
All stillbirths in England and Wales must be registered within 42 days. It may not be registered more than 3 months after it occurred.
Blackpool Registration Service can only register deaths and stillbirths which occur in the Local Authority Unitary District of Blackpool, usually at the following places:
- Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road
- Trinity the Hospice in the Fylde, Low Moor Road
- Any residence where the Council Tax is payable to Blackpool Council
You have two choices of where you can register a death or stillbirth in Blackpool:
1. At Blackpool Register Office on South King Street in the town centre.
2. At Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Please note: Any deaths or stillbirths that occur in the Local Authority Districts of Wyre and Fylde can be registered at any Register Office administered by Lancashire County Council. These include Fleetwood Register Office and Lytham Register Office. Use this link for Lancashire County Council’s Registration Service.
2. HOW TO REGISTER IF YOU LIVE IN ANOTHER DISTRICT
- for example, if you were on holiday when the death or stillbirth occurred or it is simply inconvenient to travel to the register office in the district where the death took place
- and the death took place within England and Wales . . .
. . . then you can register the death or stillbirth by declaration at any Register Office in England and Wales convenient for you.
You provide exactly the same information to a registrar who records the details on a form of declaration. The declaration is then signed by the informant. The attesting registrar then forwards the declaration to the appropriate registration district by post.
You can pay for any death or stillbirth certificates that you require by cheque or postal order at the time of attesting the declaration. Payment is usually only taken in this way when registering by declaration because this is the most secure form of payment by post. Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to The Superintendent Registrar.
Please note: If a declaration is made, it may take a few days for the document for burial or cremation to be issued as this procedure is dependent on the post. You should discuss the arrangements with your funeral director and the registrar so as to avoid any unnecessary delay to the funeral.
If you would like to locate your nearest Register Office, use this Directgov link.
3. ARRANGING AN URGENT BURIAL.
If you need to arrange an urgent burial (for example, if the deceased was Jewish or Muslim) then The Superintendent Registrar can be contacted outside normal working hours by these communities on 07796 994 679 or 07796 994 678.
4. PAYMENT.
Payment can be made by:
- cash
- cheque
- postal order
- debit or credit card
Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Blackpool Council.
5. BOOKING YOUR APPOINTMENT.
- To book an appointment at Blackpool Register Office, phone our receptionists on 01253 477 177.
- To book an appointment at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, phone the Bereavement Office on 01253 303 723.
- Registering a death or a stillbirth takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
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