© 2007 The Cathedral of Saint Mary.

Web Master: Fr Simon Broughton

Registration of Deaths

 

Deaths in England and Wales must be registered in the district in which they take place although this may be arranged through any register office. Again it is strongly advised a telephone call to the local register office where officers can offer full advice and if required arrange an appointment to register. There is no fee required to register a death.

 

When a person dies the doctor who was treating them will issue a medical certificate of cause of death to the relatives. The person registering the death will present this certificate to the registrar. Occasionally, if the death was sudden or the doctor concerned is unavailable, it may not be possible for a medical certificate to be issued. If this happens, the death will have to be reported to the Coroner which may lead to a delay in registering.

 

Every death must be registered within five days of the date of death unless the arrangements are in the Coroner’s jurisdiction. The registration is effected by personal attendance before the local registrar most usually by a relative of the deceased. Where there are no relatives, certain other persons can act as informants, again full advice will be offered by the register office.