Death

A death in England and Wales needs to be registered within 5 working days, unless any Coroner’s involvement prevents this. Registration will take place in the Registration Office covering the district in which the death occurred, with the personal attendance of an informant, who is usually a relative or person present at the death or making the funeral arrangements with the Funeral Directors. Hampshire is now one district.

Registration is by appointment and each office will be able to advise you further, or follow the links. The registrar will formally record the death and allow certificates to be produced.

Registering a Death

Stillbirths | Bereavement Information |

A death in the family is distressing and stressful. This web page explains the formalities required to register a death.

It tells you about:

• the formalities after a death

• where to register a death

• how to register a death

• what certificates you will get

If you need more help or information, call one of our offices. You will find the number on the back. Our staff will be pleased to deal sympathetically with your enquiry.

The formalities after death

The doctor who was attending the deceased will sign and issue a medical certificate showing the cause of death. This may be your family doctor; or a duty doctor if the deceased died in hospital. The sealed envelope containing this document must be handed to the Registrar.

In some circumstances the death will have to be referred to the coroner, either by the doctor, or the registrar. The coroner will then decide to:

• take no further action and inform the registrar of the decision

• carry out an after death examination (post mortem). In this case the coroner will issue the cause of death certificate and send it to the registrar.

• hold an inquest. Either the coroner or the registrar will advise you what happens in these circumstances. Until the coroner's decision is known it will not be possible to register the death.

Where to register a death

A death is normally registered in the registration district where it happened.Hampshire is one registration district.  A call to your local registration office will confirm which office you should go to. You will be issued with the documents you need at the time of registration.

All Hampshire registration offices have an appointments system and you can register a Hampshire death at any one of them. You can make an appointment at the office during opening hours. If you find you can't register at that office, don't worry. You can register the death by declaration at any register office in England and Wales. The death certificates and forms concerning the registration will then be forwarded by the registering office (at your direction). This could take up to a week.

How to register a death

Preferably, a relative of the deceased should be present to register the death. If there are no relatives, it is possible for someone else to register. Please check with your local registration office first for advice.

You may find it useful to bring the deceased's birth certificate, marriage certificate (where appropriate) and NHS medical card with you when you register.

You should allow about 30 minutes for the registration. In some circumstances it may take longer.

The registrar will ask you to provide the following details:

• date and place of death

• full names of the deceased, including maiden name where appropriate

• the deceased's date and place of birth

• the deceased's occupation

• the full names and occupation of the 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 the spouse.

You will also be asked if the deceased was receiving any pensions or allowances from public funds. This might include pensions from previous employment, or sickness and retirement pensions.

Following registration

You will be issued with two free of charge certificates, for specific purposes;

• The certificate for burial or cremation (sometimes called the Green Form). This is the certificate for you to take to the funeral director so that arrangements can be made for the funeral to take place. In certain circumstances a form will be issued by the Coroner. If this is the case the registrar will advise you.

• The certificate of Registration of Death (called form 344/BD8). This is for Department of Social Services (DSS) purposes. You should fill in the back of the form at your convenience, and send it to your local DSS office as directed. An envelope will be provided by the registrar.

Death certificates

You can buy copies of the death certificates which you may need for insurance or probate purposes. A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the register. If in doubt the registrar will help by advising you how many you will need and the current fee for the certificates.

• The Registration Offices of Hampshire

• Online Appointment Booking System for the Registration of Deaths

Stillbirths

• See also our frequently asked questions about stillbirths

Stillbirths are births where the baby did not show any signs of life beyond the 24th week of the pregnancy. The doctor will advise you if you need to register, in which case you will need to contact the Registration Office covering the district where the stillbirth occurred. In Hampshire that would be any registration office.

Stillbirths in England and Wales must normally be registered within 42 days of the stillbirth but cannot be registered more than 3 months after its occurrence. This can often be done at the hospital or it not at the local registration office. http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/stillbirths/.

Useful Links

• Age Concern

• The Child Bereavement Trust

• The Child Death Helpline

• The Compassionate Friends (UK)

• Cruse Bereavement Care

• Epilepsy Bereaved?

• The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths

• The Natural Death Centre

• PAPYRUS (Prevention of Suicides)

• RoadPeace - UK National Charity for Road Crash Victims

Death - Fees

Death Certificates from the Registrar at the time of registration and shortly afterwards:-

Standard death certificate	£3.50

When a register is full it is passed to the Superintendent Registrar and certificates can no longer be obtained from the Registrar.

Death Certificates from the Superintendent Registrar:-

Standard Certificate	£7.00

Remembrance Funeral Ceremonies

Fees currently are:

For attendance of Registration staff at Approved Premises, Chapel of Rest,  Crematorium or other agreed venue (includes initial contact, interview,  preparation of eulogy and approval of ceremony content)

Registration Offices	Monday to Thursday	£110
	Friday	£125
	Saturday Afternoon	£210
	Sunday / Bank Holidays	£270
Other venues	Monday to Friday	£220
	Saturday	£280
	Sunday	£320

For further information please contact your nearest Registration Office where we will be happy to help.

Useful Web Sites

• Winchester District Probate Registry

• Hampshire Crematoria

•  "What to do after a death" (Adobe PDF Document - download Acrobat Reader)
  (Department of Works and Pensions)

• General Register Office