How to register a death

First of all, please allow us to say how sorry we are to hear about your loss.

Yonderlife are able to help you through the challenging times ahead, it all starts with the official registration of the death.

It is a legal requirement to register a death within 5 days.

An official registration of death is made at a register office.

You can contact any register office, however it is quicker if you register at the register office in the area where the death took place.

You can find a register office here:

Find a register office

Find a register office (registry office) - register and find records of births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths, and order certificates

GOV.UKGovernment Digital Service

The following guidelines are offered relating to who should register the death:

A relative should register the death.
If a relative cannot register the death, you can do it if you:

  * were there at the time of death
  * are an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in hospital)
  * are in charge of making funeral arrangements

The register office will tell you what you need to do when you contact them.

There may be remote registrations in place due to any covid restrictions which the register office will tell you about.

There may be maximum numbers of people who can attend a register office. We recommend that you check with the register office.

The following guidance is given about what to take to the register office relating to the deceased:

  * birth certificate
  * Council Tax bill
  * driving licence
  * marriage or civil partnership certificate
  * NHS medical card
  * passport
  * proof of address (eg utility bill)

If you are unable to find these documents relating to the deceased, ask the Registrar what to do.

The Registrar will also need to know the following:

  * the person’s full name at the time of death
  * any names previously used, eg maiden name
  * the person’s date and place of birth
  * their last address
  * their occupation
  * the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
  * whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits

Once the death is registered, the Registrar will supply the following:

  * a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the ‘green form’) - gives permission for burial or an application for cremation
  
  * a Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8) - you may need to fill this in and return it if the person was getting a State Pension or benefits (the form will come with a pre-paid envelope so you know where to send it)

You can buy extra death certificates. Yonderlife recommend that you purchase multiple copies.  Other institutions and organisations may request an original copy.  You will be dealing with many emotional issues going forward and removing administrative frustrations will help along the way.

Citizens' advice offer the following advice here, with a section if the coroner is needed:

What to do after a death

Information on registering a death, arranging a funeral, dealing with property and organisations which can provide further help and counselling.

Citizens Advice

Yonderlife enables executors to upload the death certificate into the deceased's estate.  This forms the basis of building a probate file.  Each task you need to undertake can be shared, commented upon, scheduled and marked as complete.