Registration of Death and Certificates

What to do first

If the death occurs in hospital

When someone dies in hospital you will need to speak to the Bereavement Office. They will oversee paperwork that doctors complete and send it direct to the Registrar’s Office.

If the death occurs at home

If the death was expected, for example a terminal illness, you should inform the doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will usually issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death which they will send direct to the Registrar. You will need to contact the Registry Office to register the death. There is a legal requirement to do this within five days (including Saturday and Sunday).

Unexpected death

When someone dies unexpectedly, the death will be reported to the Coroner’s Office. A Coroner’s Officer will liaise with you and advise you on what will happen next. You can still contact us for help and advice, even at this early stage.

We will care for the deceased while the Coroner makes their enquiries.

The Coroner

In cases where the death has been reported to the Coroner the procedure is somewhat different. The Coroner and Coroner’s Officers are working in your interest.
After contact has been made by the Coroner’s Office, they will send paperwork to the Registry Office to allow the death to be registered.

Certificates

The Registrar will provide, free of charge, a ‘Green Certificate’ which the Funeral Director will need as soon as possible. You can also purchase as many copies of the ‘Death Certificate’ as you think you will need.

Pension Companies, Insurance Companies, Banks and Solicitors may all ask for an original copy, so you may wish to purchase a number of copies. There is a fee payable for each copy.