Take it one step at a time.
Registering the death — the first formal step
- the death certificate
- the green 'certificate for burial or cremation'
- a Tell Us Once reference — use it within 28 days
- around 4 to 6 certified copies
Get the medical certificate first
You usually can't register until a doctor has issued the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. The hospital or GP arranges this, and a medical examiner may review it before it's released — this is normal and can add a short delay. The register office can't see the death until that certificate reaches them, so wait to hear it's ready before you book.
Find the right register office and book
Register at the office for the district where the person died — not where they lived, if those differ. Most offices are appointment-only, so phone ahead or book online; you can't usually just walk in. Search 'register a death' on GOV.UK and enter the postcode of the place of death to find the correct office and its booking line.
Know who can register
In most cases a relative registers the death. If no relative is available, it can be someone present at the death, an administrator from the hospital, or the person arranging the funeral. You don't need to be the executor or next of kin — one informant attends the appointment and gives the details.
Take what you can find — but don't delay over missing items
Helpful to bring: the deceased's full name (and maiden name), date and place of birth, last address, occupation, and their NHS number, birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, and passport if you have them. If some are missing, you can still register — bring what you have rather than postponing the appointment.
At the appointment — and the documents you walk away with
The registrar records the details, then issues the death certificate (a certified copy of the entry) and the green 'certificate for burial or cremation' that the funeral director needs. They'll also offer Tell Us Once: either completing it with you there, or handing you a unique reference number to use yourself within 28 days.
Buy several certified copies up front
You'll need to send a death certificate to banks, pension providers, insurers and the probate registry — and many won't accept photocopies. Buying extra certified copies at the appointment is far cheaper and faster than ordering them later. For an estate with a few accounts, around 4 to 6 copies is a sensible starting point.
A short checklist for this step.
Free to use — nothing to sign up for. Work down it at your own pace.
- Wait for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to be released before booking
- Book an appointment at the register office for the district where the person died
- Bring the deceased's full name, date and place of birth, last address and occupation
- Bring supporting documents if you have them (NHS number, birth/marriage certificate, passport)
- Collect the death certificate and the green certificate for the funeral director
- Use Tell Us Once, or note the reference number to complete it within 28 days
- Buy around 4–6 certified copies of the death certificate at the appointment
Prefer an independent adviser? The Law Society, STEP and the Chartered Institute of Taxation keep public directories, and none of them pays Valoren a referral fee.
Answered, plainly.
Once the death is registered, the notifying begins. Our free Notification Map gives you the order to tell banks, pensions and providers — so you're not writing each one from scratch. Optional, and only when you're ready.
Notification Map — freeInformational, not legal or financial advice. This guide covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Always confirm current rules and figures at GOV.UK before acting.