What to do First

The death must be registered by the registrar of Births, Marriages and deaths for the sub-district in which it occurred. You can find the address in the phone book under REGISTRATION OF DEATHS & MARRIAGES, or from the doctor, local council, post office or police station. 

If the death has been referred to the coroner, it cannot be registered until the registrar has received authority from the coroner to do so. 
If the death has not been referred to the coroner, go to the registrar as soon as possible.

The death must be registered within 5 days (unless the registrar says this period may be exceeded).

When you go to the registrar you should take all these:* The medical certificate of the cause of death
* The deceased’s medical card, if possible
* The deceased’s birth and marriage certificates, if available. You should tell the registrar:
* The date and place of death
* The deceased’s last (usual) address
* The deceased’s first name and surname (and the maiden name where appropriate)
* The deceased’s date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK, and country if born abroad)
* The deceased’s occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse
* Whether the deceased was getting a pension or allowance from public funds
* If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower.
* The registrar who registers the death will give you:
* A certificate for burial or cremation (known as the green form) unless the coroner has given you an order for burial (form 101) or a certificate for cremation (form E) These give permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made. It should be taken to the funeral directors so that the funeral can be held. 
* A Certificate of registration of death (form bd8). This is for social security purposes only. Read the information on the back of the certificate.  If any of it applies, fill in the certificate and show it to your social security office. 
* Leaflets about widow’s benefits and income tax for widows, where appropriate. If you go to a register office other than the one for the sub-district where the death took place, the above certificates will be sent to you.

The Death Certificate

The death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The registrar can let you have a death certificate if you want one, but you will have to pay a fee. You may need a death certificate for the will and for any pension claims, insurance policies, savings bank certificates and premium bonds. You may wish to ask for several copies of the death certificate straight away as the price increases if you need one later on.

The registrar may not be able to give you them all straight away and may ask you to call back or ask for postage so that they may be sent to you. 

If you go to a register office other than the one for sub-district where the death took place the required certificates may be ordered at the same time and will be sent to you.

Still Born Babies

Registration
If a baby is still born (born dead after the 24th week of pregnancy) you will be given a Medical certificate of stillborn signed by the midwife or doctor, which you should give to the registrar. If no doctor or midwife was present and no doctor or midwife has examined the body, you must sign form 35 which the registrar will give you. 

The registrar will give you a certificate for burial or cremation and a certificate of stillbirth. 

You can ask to have first name entered for a stillbirth baby. The registrar will write the baby’s name on these certificates if the name is recorded in the register. It is also possible to get certified copies of the entry of stillbirth. 

The information of a stillbirth may be given to any registrar in UK. the procedure is similar to that for deaths.
 
Funeral

The hospital may offer to arrange a burial or cremation, free of charge, for every stillborn baby, whether born in hospital or at home. You should discuss the funeral arrangements with the hospital staff or midwife. If you accept the offer, the baby will be cremated or buried after a simple ceremony. The parents can, if they wish, arrange the funeral themselves.

If your baby was stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy you may still be entitle to Statutory Maternity pay or Maternity Allowance. 

Summary of Forms and Cretificates

Listed are some of the forms and certificates you will be given when registering a death.  The list explains when and where you get each form.