Where to register the death
Registration should be at the Registry office for the district where the death occurred. If this is impractical, then the person who qualifies to do the registration can visit their nearest registry office to carry out a ‘death by declaration’, but it may take several extra days before any documentation is issued that is necessary before the funeral can take place. Most Registry offices require an appointment to be made, so telephone as soon as you are advised that the Medical Cause of Death Certificate will be available or when informed by the Coroner’s representative. For more information such as addresses and telephone numbers, click on the appropriate link to the right.
If you are unsure which Registry Office is applicable, do not hesitate to contact ourselves, and we will advise you.
When to register ?
Usually, a death must be registered within 5 days, unless the Coroner (The Coroner is a doctor or solicitor who is responsible for investigating deaths which are sudden, unnatural or uncertain. ) has to determine the cause of death.
Who can register
Only the following persons are eligible to register the death:
- Any relative (the next-of-kin is preferred)
- Any person present at the death
- An occupant of a care or nursing home where the death occurred
- An official from the hospital where the death took place
- An executor or friend causing the disposal of the body
When the death is expected
Within a couple of working days after being notified of a death at a private address or care home, the deceased’s own GP will forward the Medical Cause of Death Certificate to the relevant Registry Office. Registry Offices within the BCP conurbation will phone the deceased’s next-of-kin or executor and they will make an appointment for them to visit the Registry Office. Other areas in Dorset or Hampshire require you to phone or book an appointment online to Register, once you know the GP has sent the Medical Cause of Death Certificate. Where the death has occurred in a hospital, the Bereavement Services team will inform you of the procedures.
When the death is unexpected or unnatural
When the death is sudden, unexpected or unnatural (including industrial diseases) then it will be referred to the Coroner responsible for the district where the death occurred. The Coroner may agree with the deceased’s own doctor that they can issue a Medical Cause of Death Certificate, therefore registration can take place as soon as this certificate has been emailed to the appropriate Registry Office.
or
The Coroner will arrange for an examination of the deceased to determine the cause of death and will inform the appropriate Registry Office directly of this information, allowing registration to be completed.
or
The Coroner will arrange for an examination and collect evidence to open an Inquest to determine the cause of death. After the Inquest, the Coroner will register the death. An Interim Death Certificate can be requested until this takes place.
At the Registry Office
The Registrar will require the following information:
- The Medical Cause of Death Certificate (unless the Coroner has determined the cause of death)
- Full name of the deceased (together with the maiden name for a lady and other names they may have been known as)
- The date and place of death
- The date and district of birth of the deceased
- The normal residence of the deceased
- Details of the deceased’s spouse (if married)
- The NHS Medical Card of the deceased (if available)
- Details of the informant, i.e. the person registering the death.
Once all the information has been recorded on the Registrar’s computer, a Death Certificate will be printed off and the informant is asked to sign it as correct. The Registrar will then issue the following:
Certificate for Burial or Cremation (green)
Unless the funeral is to be a cremation and the Coroner has determined the cause of death.
Certificate of Registration form BD8 (white)
issued where the deceased was in receipt of a Pension or other benefits from the State.
Certified Copy of the Death Certificate (grey)
A statutory fee is payable for each copy (which is currently £11.00 at the time of registration) therefore consider how many copies are necessary.
Links of where to register are below:
Bournemouth/Poole
Dorset
Hampshire
Southampton
Portsmouth
Tell us once
After the registration has been completed, the Registrar will offer the “Tell us once” service, which provides the opportunity to notify central and local government departments about the death. You will need the deceased’s National Insurance number to enable this to proceed and if applicable their passport and driving licence details as well. You can find out more about this by visiting this link https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once