How to register a death
You must register a death within five days. Here are details of who can do it, what to bring and the documents you'll receive.
Medical certificate of cause of death submissions
The following form is for authorised persons to provide us with scans of medical cause of death certificates, statutory forms for the registration of deaths, and to provide contact details of the deceased's next of kin.
Submit a medical certificate of cause of death or Coroner's form
Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once is a free government service that allows you to report a death when you suffer a bereavement and need to tell central and local government.
Watch the video - reporting a death using the Tell Us Once service (YouTube)
Death certificates
How to order a death certificate, what it costs and how long it takes.
Order a copy of a death certificate
Death certificate corrections
Mistake on a certificate? Don't worry, it's usually possible to correct it.
Register a still-birth
The bereavement midwife will make an appointment for you to register the still-birth.
Coroners and mortuary
Guidance about coronor's decisions, inquests and the mortuary.
Emergency burial certificates
There may religious reasons for a burial certificate to be issued urgently. Our emergency burial certificate service can be contacted on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 12 noon on 020 8748 8588.
This service is only available to facilitate urgent burials taking place on the same day.
To use this service you will need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the doctor who attended the body.
You will still need to return to the Register Office during normal working hours to register the death within 5 days of the death taking place.
You will not be able to use this service if the death has been reported to the coroner or if you intend to take the deceased out of the country.
Cemeteries and burials
Guidance about funeral bookings, memorials and cemetery management.
Client affairs service and council contract funerals
What happens if the council has to make the funeral arrangements and contact details for our client affairs team.