While we can’t take away the pain of losing someone, we try to help however we can. We’ve put together this guide to shine some light on tasks you may need to think about and how to tackle them.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you might find it on the government website. Footnote [1]
A death must be registered within 5 days (8 in Scotland), or when the coroner says it’s okay. You can find out more about who should register the death on the Citizens Advice website.
You’ll need to take the medical certificate you got from hospital or GP to the registry office. You’ll also need to bring other important documents (if you have them) such as their birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, National Insurance number, proof of address (such as a utility bill), driving licence and passport.
It’s also helpful if you have the full name, date of birth and National Insurance number of any surviving spouse or civil partner.
In England and Wales, you should use the registry office closest to where the person died to make the process faster. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, you can register the death at any district registration office. You can find a register office at www.gov.uk/register-offices .
Registering a death is free and usually takes about 30 minutes but it’s best to make an appointment.
For a speedy way to report the death to lots of government organisations, such as HMRC, DVLA, Department for Work and Pensions and the local Council Tax office, use the Tell Us Once service. It can save you lots of time so mention it if the registrar hasn’t already.
Once you’ve registered the death and have a death certificate, you can arrange the funeral.
Funerals can be pricey, so get quotes from a few places so you can find what works for your budget. The person who passed might have left behind some wishes for their funeral or even a pre-paid funeral plan, so it’s worth checking their paperwork first.
Most people use a funeral director who will guide you through the process. You can choose one from the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors .
It’s possible to arrange a funeral yourself. You could contact the cemeteries and crematorium department of your local authority for help and information or the Natural Death Centre.
