Registering a Death

Preliminaries to Registering a Death

Approximately 2,500 deaths are registered each year at Torbay Register Office.

A death must be registered by the Registrar of Deaths for the district in which the death occurred.  A death should be registered within 5 days unless the Registrar allows the period to be extended.

It may not be convenient for you to visit the Register Office of the district in which the death occurred.  If this is the case you may register the death at any Register Office in England and Wales to make a declaration of the particulars required.  If you decide to do this the death certificates and forms will be posted to you.

Most Register Offices operate an appointment system.  As soon as the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued to you by the General Practioner or hospital doctor you should call the Register Office to make an appointment.  You will need to take this certificate to the appointment and hand it to the Registar.

Coroners

In certain circumstances the death will have to be referred to the Coroner by the Doctor or the Registrar.  The Coroner may do one of three things:

1. Decide that no action needs to be taken.  A certificate (form 100A) will then be issued to the Registrar by the Coroner.
2. Decide to hold a post mortem examination.  A certificate (form 100B) will then be issued to the Registrar by the Coroner.
3. Decide to hold an inquest.  The Coroner's Officer will advise you about what to do if this happens.

How to Register a Death

A death registration will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and you must call to make an appointment (this is to ensure that you are not left waiting for any length of time).

Certain people have a legal responsibility to register a death.  In order of preference they are:

• A relative of the deceased, present at the death.
• A relative of the deceased, in attendance during the last illness.
• A relative of the deceased.
• A person present at the death.
• The occupier of the establishment in which the death occurred.
• Any inmate of the house if he / she knew of the happening of the death

The Registrar must be satisfied that the death is one that s/he may register and to establish this must be sure that number of criteria are met;

• The death occurred in the district covered by the Register Office.
• The person wishing to register the death is qualified to do so.
• A properly completed, correct form of medical certificate has been issued.
• The death is not one which needs to be referred to the coroner.
• It is not more than 12 months since the death occurred.

The Registrar will require to following information from the informant:

1. The date and place of death.
2. The full name of the deceased (and maiden name where appropriate).
3. The date and place of birth of the deceased.
4. The deceased occupation and the full names and occupation or her husband if she was a married woman or a widow.
5. The deceased usual address.
6. Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds.
7. If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the spouse.
8. The National Health Service number of the deceased.  If this is not available please do not delay the registration.

Certificates

Once the death has been registered, the Registrar will issue you with some important paperwork:

A Certificate for Burial or Cremation, also known as the green form.  You will need to take this to the Funeral Director so that the funeral can take place.  In certain circumstances this will be issued by the Coroner.  There is no charge for this certificate.

A Certificate of Registration of Death, also known as form BD8.  This form is for Social Security purposes and after completion should be returned to your local social security office.  There is no charge for this certificate.

Standard Death Certificates.  A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register.  You may require copies for banks, building societies, solicitors, insurance claims and pension companies.  The Registrar will issue you with as many copies as you need.  There is a charge of £3.50 for each copy.

Leaflets relating to benefits are also available from the Registrar.