Registering a death: who, where and the time limits
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A death must be registered with the local registrar before the funeral can go ahead. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the time limit is 5 days, and in Scotland it is 8 days. A relative usually does it, registration itself is free, and you come away with the paperwork the funeral director and the banks will need.
What happens first
Before you can register, a doctor has to certify the cause of death.
- If the death was expected and happened at home or in a care home, call the GP surgery (or NHS 111 out of hours). A doctor or other qualified professional will come to confirm the death.
- If it was unexpected, call 999.
The medical examiner (England and Wales)
In England and Wales, every death that is not being investigated by a coroner is now reviewed by a medical examiner. GOV.UK describes this as a senior doctor who was not involved in the person's care, who checks that the cause of death is recorded accurately. Their office will contact you to explain the cause of death and give you the chance to ask questions or raise concerns about the care. Talking to them is voluntary.
You must wait until the medical examiner's office confirms that you can register. The medical certificate is then sent to the register office for you.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
In Scotland the doctor completes a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, which is usually sent straight to the registrar. A sample of certificates is selected at random for independent review; mygov.scot says this can delay registration by about one to three working days, and you will be told if it happens. In Northern Ireland the doctor issues the medical certificate of cause of death, which is needed to register.
If a coroner is involved
Some deaths, for example where the cause is unknown or the death was sudden or unnatural, are reported to the coroner (the procurator fiscal in Scotland). You cannot register until they have finished, and the time limits below do not apply in the same way. The coroner's office will tell you what happens next and can issue an interim certificate so that you can start dealing with the estate.
Time limits in each nation
| Nation | Time limit | Where you can register |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Within 5 days of the medical examiner's confirmation, counting weekends and bank holidays | The register office for the area where the person died is quickest. Another office can take the details, but the paperwork then takes longer. |
| Scotland | Within 8 days | Any registration office in Scotland |
| Northern Ireland | Within 5 days | Any district registration office in Northern Ireland |
These limits were checked on GOV.UK, mygov.scot and nidirect in November 2026. If you need more time, tell the register office straight away. Most offices work by appointment, so phone or book online as soon as you are told you can register.
Who can register
Usually a relative. If no relative is available, it can be done by someone who was present at the death, the person arranging the funeral (not the funeral director), an executor, or an official from the hospital or care home. In Scotland, someone who lived with the person can also register. The registrar will tell you if you are able to do it.
What to take
You do not need every document, so do not delay the appointment hunting for them, but these help the registrar get the details right:
- the person's birth certificate, and marriage or civil partnership certificate
- their NHS medical card or NHS number
You will be asked for:
- the person's full name, any previous names and a maiden surname
- their date and place of birth
- their last address and their occupation
- the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
What you come away with
- The certificate for burial or cremation. In England and Wales this is often called the green form. It goes to the funeral director, and the funeral cannot take place without it. It is often sent directly.
- Death certificates. These are certified copies of the entry in the register, and you pay for each one. The fee is set nationally in each nation. In Northern Ireland, nidirect gives it as £8 a copy when bought at registration, at the time of writing (November 2026). In England, Wales and Scotland, ask the registrar for the current fee. Banks, insurers and pension providers often want an original, so buying several at registration is usually cheaper and quicker than ordering more later.
- A Tell Us Once reference number in England, Scotland and Wales, so that you can notify government departments in one go. See Tell Us Once.
After registering
- Give the funeral director the paperwork and confirm arrangements. Check whether there is a funeral plan or an over-50s policy to help with the cost.
- Use Tell Us Once, or in Northern Ireland the Bereavement Service.
- Check what you can claim: see bereavement benefits.
- Find the will and contact the executors. A folder like the one in organising your paperwork makes this far easier.
GOV.UK has a full step-by-step guide: what to do when someone dies. For Scotland see registering a death on mygov.scot, and for Northern Ireland registering a death on nidirect.
Common questions
Does it cost anything to register a death?
Registration is free. You pay only for the certified copies of the death certificate.
What if I cannot register within the time limit?
Contact the register office immediately and explain. The time limit does not run while a coroner or procurator fiscal is investigating.
What if the person died abroad?
Register the death according to the rules of the country where it happened. The British embassy or consulate can advise. GOV.UK explains the process at register a death.