How to Register a Death in the UK: Key Steps & Costs

You must register a death in the UK within five calendar days—eight if the death occurred in Scotland—at a local register office. The appointment costs nothing, although each certified copy of the death certificate is £11 in England and Wales, £10 in Scotland, or £8 in Northern Ireland (2025 rates). Acting promptly keeps funeral plans on track and prevents potential penalties of up to £200 for late registration.

If you have never faced this paperwork before, the official jargon and strict deadlines can feel unforgiving, especially when you are still coming to terms with loss. Take comfort: the legal requirements boil down to a handful of clear, manageable steps, set out in plain English. This practical, step-by-step guide walks you through every one of them. You will learn who is allowed to register, which documents to bring, how to book the appointment, and what happens if a coroner or Procurator Fiscal becomes involved. We finish with advice on ordering certificates, using Tell Us Once, and arranging a simple or unattended cremation, so that administration does not overshadow remembrance.

Step 1: Understand the Legal Deadline and Penalties

Before you worry about forms and photo-ID, fix the deadline firmly in your mind. Registration is not optional paperwork: it is a statutory duty set out in the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 and equivalent rules in Northern Ireland. Miss the cut-off and you risk fines, delayed funerals and frozen bank accounts.

Why registration is legally required

• Creates a permanent public record of the death
• Releases the paperwork (Form GR021/“green form” or Form 14 in Scotland) needed for burial or cremation
• Triggers government systems so estates, pensions and benefits can be settled

Time limits across the UK

Weekends and bank holidays count, so a Monday death in Manchester must normally be registered by Saturday.

Consequences of late registration

A registrar may issue a written warning and, in England & Wales, impose a penalty of up to £200. More commonly, the knock-on effects hurt you: funeral directors cannot proceed without the green form, insurers withhold payouts, and probate cannot start.

Quick checklist: register now or wait?

Is Medical Certificate (MCCD) ready?
         ├── Yes → Book registrar immediately
         └── No  → Was the death reported to Coroner?
                     ├── Yes → Await coroner guidance (deadline paused)
                     └── No  → Chase GP/hospital for MCCD

Keeping this flow in mind will keep the rest of the “how to register a death UK” process on schedule.

Step 2: Secure the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

Nothing happens at the register office until you have the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death in your hand. Think of the MCCD as the key that unlocks the rest of the “how to register a death UK” process: without it, the registrar legally cannot enter the death on the system, issue the green form, or release any certificates.

Where the MCCD comes from

• GP or community doctor – for expected deaths at home or in a care home
• Hospital doctor, countersigned by the Medical Examiner’s Office (England & Wales, 2024 reforms)
• Out-of-hours doctor – if a GP is unavailable but the death was anticipated
• Coroner (England & Wales) or Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) – issues the certificate after a post-mortem, using Form 6/99 or Form 11 depending on region

The certificate is handed to you in a sealed envelope (Scotland requires it to stay sealed) or sent direct to the registrar by secure email.

What to do if the doctor cannot issue an MCCD

A doctor must refer the death if it was:

• sudden or unexplained
• due to an accident, industrial disease or medical procedure
• linked to custody or state detention

The coroner’s investigation pauses the five-day clock. Expect an initial update within 48 hours; straightforward cases are often cleared in a week, complex inquests can take months. The coroner can supply an interim death certificate so banks or employers are not left in limbo.

Special cases: organ donation, repatriation, deaths abroad

• Organ donation: you will also need a completed HTA A form before cremation.
• Repatriation: a local death certificate (translated and legalised) plus the UK MCCD.
• Deaths abroad or on a vessel: register locally first, then present both certificates to the UK registrar for a consular entry.

Step 3: Confirm Who Is Eligible to Register the Death

Only certain people—called “informants” in the legislation—are allowed to give the registrar the details that create the official record. Choosing the right informant saves a wasted trip and keeps the “how to register a death UK” timetable intact.

Priority order of informants

The registrar must, where possible, follow this list:

1. Relative who was present at the death
2. Any other relative (spouse, child, sibling)
3. Person present at the death but not related
4. Occupier of the premises where the death occurred (e.g., care-home manager, hospital administrator)
5. Person arranging the funeral (this may be a friend or executor, but not the undertaker)

If two eligible people wish to register, the registrar will usually accept the one higher up the list.

Identification the informant must bring

Bring proof the registrar can quickly verify:

• Current passport or photocard driving licence
• Proof of address if requested (council-tax bill, utility bill, bank statement)
• Your own birth or marriage certificate if your surname differs from your ID

Having originals plus clear photocopies speeds up the appointment.

What if no family is available?

When there are no relatives or friends willing or able to act, the local council has a duty under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to arrange a simple funeral. A council officer or hospital bereavement adviser will then act as informant so the death is still registered within the legal window.

Step 4: Gather the Documents and Information You’ll Need

Nothing stalls the registration process faster than missing paperwork, so set aside ten minutes to assemble everything now. Most register offices will not let the appointment go ahead unless the Medical Certificate is accompanied by proof of the deceased’s identity and a few supporting documents. Arriving fully prepared short-circuits follow-up phone calls, avoids spelling errors in the register and means you can leave the building with the green form for the funeral in your hand.

Essential documents to take to the register office

• Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) – mandatory
• NHS medical card, if found
• Birth certificate and any change-of-name deed
• Marriage or civil-partnership certificate
• Passport and/or photocard driving licence
• Most recent council-tax or utility bill (helps confirm address)

If a document is genuinely unavailable, tell the registrar in advance; they can still proceed but may ask extra questions to confirm the details.

Personal details the registrar will ask for

• Full name of the deceased, plus any maiden or former names
• Date and place of birth
• Last occupation (or “retired”)
• Usual address and postcode
• Marital or civil-partnership status, including spouse’s full name and occupation
• Whether the person received a state pension or other benefits

Having the information written down avoids guesswork and later corrections.

Tip: Prepare photocopies

Order multiple death certificates at the appointment and take photocopies of key documents with you. Photocopies help the registrar spell uncommon names correctly and speed up later probate or bank requests. Amending the register after the fact costs £90+, so double-check every letter before you sign.

Step 5: Book and Attend the Register Office Appointment

Once the Medical Certificate is in hand, the next milestone in the “how to register a death UK” process is booking the registrar. Appointments are normally face-to-face and last about half an hour, so a little planning spares repeat journeys and keeps funeral dates on schedule.

Choosing the right register office

In England and Wales you should, wherever possible, use the office in the district where the death occurred. Using another district means giving a legal declaration, which the registrar must post on, adding a day or two. Scotland and Northern Ireland are more flexible: any register office can complete the entry.

Booking the appointment

Most councils run online calendars; others still rely on phone lines. Typical wait times are 24–72 hours, but slots fill quickly after bank holidays. Let the office know if you need:

• an interpreter
• wheelchair access or hearing loop
• an evening or Saturday slot (limited, small surcharge in some areas)

What happens during the appointment

The registrar inputs the details you supply, reads them back for accuracy, then asks you to sign the electronic register. Double-check spellings—alterations later cost upwards of £90. You will receive:

• Certificate for Burial or Cremation (green form in England & Wales, Form 14 Scotland)
• Certificate of Registration of Death (BD8 or Form 334(S)) for benefits
• Any paid-for certified copies of the death certificate

COVID-19 / remote options (2025)

Emergency telephone registrations ended in most regions in 2023, but a handful of offices still offer video appointments for housebound informants. Check your council’s website; you will need to email scans of ID and the MCCD before the call.

Step 6: Understand the Costs and Order Certified Copies

Money is the last thing you want to think about, yet a little foresight here stops you paying over the odds later on. Registering the death itself is always free, but the certified copies you will need for banks, insurers and probate attract a statutory fee. Order the right number while you are at the register office and the rest of the “how to register a death UK” journey becomes far smoother.

Is there a fee to register?

No—registration is free in every UK nation. You only pay for certified copies of the entry (commonly called “death certificates”). These are printed on secure water-marked paper and have a raised crest; ordinary photocopies are not accepted by most institutions.

Cost of death certificates by region (2025)

Prices are set centrally, so every register office in a nation charges the same.

How many copies should you buy?

Think about who will ask for an original:

• Executors handling probate or confirmation
• Every bank or building society with an account in the deceased’s name
• Pension providers and life-insurance companies
• Share registrars or investment platforms
• Land Registry (if property is being transferred)

A typical estate needs 5–10 copies; large or complex estates may need more. Although you can order extras later, doing so means another wait plus recorded-delivery postage, so it is usually cheaper to buy in bulk upfront.

Payment methods

• Debit or credit card is preferred—most offices are now cash-free.
• Some accept contactless or Apple/Google Pay; confirm when booking.
• Keep the cardholder present: third-party payments over the phone are rarely allowed.

Save the receipts; probate courts sometimes refund certificate costs as an estate expense.

Step 7: Use Tell Us Once and Notify Other Organisations

With the death now registered you can start closing down official records. England, Wales and Scotland offer a brilliant shortcut called Tell Us Once. It saves repeating the same conversation with every department and is often the quickest way to stop state pensions, cancel the driving licence and update council tax. Northern Ireland does not yet run the scheme, so residents there must contact each body separately.

Setting up the Tell Us Once service

At the end of your registrar appointment you will receive a unique activation code. You have 28 days to use it online or by phone. Once submitted, the service automatically informs:

• Department for Work and Pensions (state pension, benefits)
• HMRC (income tax and Self-Assessment)
• DVLA (driving licence, vehicle tax)
• Passport Office
• Local council services such as Blue Badge, council tax, electoral roll

Eligibility is restricted to estates in England, Wales and Scotland; you’ll need the deceased’s National Insurance number plus your own contact details.

Organisations you must contact separately

Tell Us Once does not cover private companies. Make your own list and work through it methodically:

• Banks and building societies
• Utility suppliers (gas, electric, broadband, mobile)
• Mortgage lender or landlord
• Pension schemes and life-insurance providers
• Digital assets: email, social media, streaming, cloud storage

Template letter/phone script

Use a simple, repeatable format:

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to inform you that [full name], account number [XXXXX], died on [date]. Please update your records and confirm the next steps for closing or transferring the account. I enclose a certified copy of the death certificate.
Kind regards,
[Your name], Executor/Next of kin, [contact details]

Having this template to hand speeds up the remaining admin and keeps the wider “how to register a death UK” process neatly on track.

Step 8: If a Coroner or Procurator Fiscal Is Involved

Sometimes the doctor cannot sign the Medical Certificate because the cause of death is uncertain, sudden or legally sensitive. In those circumstances the case is passed to the Coroner (England & Wales, Northern Ireland) or the Procurator Fiscal (Scotland). This does not mean anyone is in trouble—it is simply the law’s way of making sure every death is fully understood before burial or cremation goes ahead.

Common reasons for referral

• Accident, suicide or violence
• Industrial disease (e.g., asbestos exposure)
• Medical procedure or neglect may have contributed
• Nobody saw the person in their last illness
• Death in prison, police custody or other state detention
• Identity of the deceased is uncertain

Impact on the registration timeline

While the investigation is open, the registrar cannot complete the entry. The five- or eight-day deadline pauses automatically.

• Straightforward cases: Coroner issues Form 99 (E&W) or Form 14 (Scotland) within a week.
• Post-mortem required: expect 1–4 weeks.
• Full inquest: registration waits until the verdict, but you can request an interim certificate to deal with banks and employers, and funerals may proceed under a Coroner’s burial/cremation order.

Viewing the report and inquest outcome

Relatives are entitled to a copy of the post-mortem report and the final inquest findings. Contact the Coroner’s office (or Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit) in writing; fees of £5–£30 apply. You may attend the inquest, ask questions or be represented by a solicitor—useful if the findings could influence insurance, compensation or any future “how to register a death UK” paperwork.

Step 9: Special Situations and Regional Variations

Most deaths are registered in the way we have already covered, yet a handful fall under special rules. If any of the scenarios below applies, flag it to the registrar early so the correct paperwork is produced and you avoid looping back through the “how to register a death UK” process.

Registering a death abroad or on a ship / aircraft

First obtain a local death certificate where the death occurred. For UK authorities you will need a certified translation plus the consular “Certificate of Death Overseas” or a registry entry by the ship’s captain. A UK funeral cannot proceed until these documents, together with the MCCD or equivalent, are lodged with the chosen register office.

Military deaths and Commonwealth War Graves

Service-related fatalities are coordinated by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre. They guide next of kin through repatriation and liaise with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission if a military burial is chosen. Civil registration still happens in the normal district.

Stillbirths and neonatal deaths

A stillbirth (from 24 weeks’ gestation) must be registered within 42 days using a separate “Certificate of Registration of Stillbirth”. For neonatal deaths, you need both a birth and a death registration; the hospital bereavement midwife will assemble the forms.

Dealing with digital estates

Executors should list and close online accounts—email, social media, cloud storage—to prevent identity theft. Most major platforms accept a scanned death certificate plus proof of executorship before memorialising or deleting the profile. Keeping passwords in a sealed envelope simplifies the task.

Step 10: Next Practical Steps After Registration

With the paperwork signed and certificates safely filed, the focus shifts from how to register a death UK to what happens next. The green form (or Scottish Form 14) is now your passport to arranging a respectful farewell and sorting the estate.

Arranging the funeral or direct cremation

Hand the green form to your chosen funeral director or crematorium; they cannot book a cremation slot without it. Traditional services combine a ceremony and the committal, but many families now choose an unattended direct cremation first, then hold a personalised memorial later—on a beach, in a garden, or even the local pub. Whatever you decide, confirm:

• date, time and venue
• whether you need Cremation Form 4 or medical implants removed
• transport of ashes (collection, courier or scattering at the crematorium)
  Setting a provisional date early prevents diaries clashing with family travel or religious time-limits.

Claiming bereavement benefits and dealing with finances

Use the BD8 or Form 334(S) to claim Bereavement Support Payment, Widowed Parent’s Allowance or Guardian’s Allowance. Contact banks, insurers and the Probate Registry next; most will freeze accounts until an executor presents a certified death certificate and—if required—Grant of Probate or Scottish Confirmation.

Looking after yourself and others

Paperwork can wait; grief cannot. Share tasks with relatives, notify your GP if sleep or appetite vanish, and lean on charities such as Cruse, Samaritans, or Marie Curie’s free helpline. A short walk, a chat, or simply saying “yes” to help makes a real difference.

Final thoughts

Learning how to register a death in the UK can feel like one task too many when emotions are already running high, yet the ten steps above show that the process is mostly logical once the Medical Certificate is in hand. Keep the deadline in view, gather the right documents, and lean on Tell Us Once to cut repetitive admin. That done, you are free to spend time where it matters—supporting each other and planning a fitting goodbye.

If that goodbye is likely to be a simple, unattended cremation rather than a full-scale funeral, our team at Go Direct Cremations can handle every practical detail for a transparent fixed fee. Download our free cost guide, compare it with local quotes, and choose the option that feels right for your family and your budget. Compassion and clarity should never be mutually exclusive.