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You will need to register a person’s death at a Registration Office in the district where the death occurred within 5 days, unless there are exceptional circumstances or the Coroner is involved

It usually takes no more than 50 minutes to register.

A death should normally be registered by a close relative

• An ex-wife/ex-husband does not qualify as a 'relative of the deceased'.
• If there are no relatives, it is possible for someone else to register, such as someone who was present at the death, the owner/manager of the residential home or hospital where the death occurred or the person making the arrangements with the Funeral Director.
• An Executor does not qualify in their own right to register a death.

Tell Us Once

The ‘Tell Us Once’ service is offered at the time of all death registration appointments in Hampshire. Tell Us Once reduces the amount of time you need to spend contacting government departments and organisations. All relevant information is recorded by the registrar and sent electronically to the departments and local services that need to know. For full details about what information is required see: Tell Us Once service.

Deaths in Hampshire

Make an appointment

• Book an appointment online

Do not use the online booking system if you require a same-day appointment or one that is more than 5 days after the date of the death. Instead please telephone 0845 603 5637 for further help.

You can make an appointment for any of our Registration Offices, tel 0845 603 5637 call charges. Phone lines open Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm, Saturday 9.30am - 4pm

Please ensure you arrive on time or your appointment will be re-scheduled. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know.

If you are unable to attend a registration office in Hampshire, you may make a death declaration at any Registration Office in England and Wales. This will then be sent to the registration office in the district where the death occurred and the death certificates, pension form and green form allowing the funeral director to proceed with funeral arrangements will be sent to you by post. This will take about a week so may cause a delay in organising the funeral.

Deaths in Southampton or Portsmouth

• Southampton deaths
• Portsmouth deaths

Deaths elsewhere in England and Wales

If it’s not possible to travel to the district where the death occurred, the registration information can be given as a declaration to a Hampshire registration officer who will fill out a form of declaration and send it to the registration officer in the district where the death occurred. Death certificates can be ordered and paid for (by cheque or postal order only) at the time of making the declaration and these will be posted to you.

Deaths abroad

If the death occurred outside England or Wales, see When someone dies abroad.

• Contact the Hampshire Coroners

When you register the death you should bring

• The medical certificate of cause of death from the doctor or hospital.

Other useful documents to bring include the deceased's

• birth certificate
• marriage or civil partnership certificate (where appropriate)
• NHS medical card

If a Coroner is involved

You will not be able to register the death until their permission has been given

The Coroner may decide

• that no action is necessary and he informs the registration officer accordingly
• to hold a post-mortem examination in which case a Pink Form 100B will be issued by the Coroner and sent directly to the registration officer to be used instead of a medical certificate of cause of death. You must wait to hear from the Coroner before making an appointment to register.
• to hold an inquest. The Coroner’s Officer or registration officer will advise you what to do in these circumstances.

You will be asked

• the date and place of death
• the full names of the deceased, including maiden name (where appropriate) and any other names used
• the deceased's date and place of birth
• the deceased's occupation
• the full names and occupation of their spouse or civil partner and whether they are still living
• the deceased's usual address
• if the deceased was married, the date of birth of their spouse

Pension entitlement

You will also be asked if the deceased was receiving any pensions or allowances such as Teachers, Civil Service or Armed Forces, and, if so, to supply their pension reference number. This might include pensions from previous employment, or sickness and retirement pensions.

Tell Us Once

The ‘Tell Us Once’ service is offered at the time of all death registration appointments in Hampshire. Tell Us Once reduces the amount of time you need to spend contacting government departments and organisations. All relevant information is recorded by the registrar and sent electronically to the departments and local services that need to know. For full details about what information is required see: Tell Us Once service.

Documents you will receive

• A certificate for burial or cremation, known as the ‘green form’ which the funeral director will need. In certain circumstances a form will be issued by the Coroner, the registration officer will advise you if necessary

• A certificate of registration of death (form BD8), issued for social security purposes if the person received a state pension or benefits.

• Certified copies of the register entry (called Death Certificates) which will be needed by the executor or administrator for legal purposes such as dealing with the will, banks, credit cards, pensions, insurance, National Savings and Investments, mortgage, loans etc. The registrar can advise you how many certificates you are likely to need. If you require additional certificates at a later date, you can request a certificate online.
  Certificates cost £4 each (£7 after the registration date, £10 once the register is archived).

• If the registration has to be delayed, it is possible for a certificate for burial or cremation (the 'green' form) to be issued before registration, provided the death does not need to be reported to the coroner.

• The registrar will give you a booklet called What to do after a death. It offers advice on probate and other administrative issues that need to be dealt with.

Making changes

Under certain circumstances it may be possible to change the details or add to the information recorded at the time of the original registration. You will need to contact the office where the death was originally registered for advice on how to proceed.