Unsure who is meant to speak for a loved one once the doctor has signed the death certificate? The law says a close relative should attend the register office within five days (eight in Scotland), but if no family member can, a friend who was present, the person arranging the funeral, or even a care-home manager may step forward.
Registering the death matters; without the entry you cannot obtain the copies that unlock banks, pensions, probate, or the ‘Green Form’ that allows a burial or cremation to proceed. This guide sets out who qualifies, the order of priority, the documents you will need, and what happens at the appointment, so you can take the steps with confidence and no surprises.
Why the Death Must Be Registered Promptly
The law is clear: every death must be recorded with the local registrar. Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 and parallel Northern Irish regulations, the clock starts as soon as a doctor hands over the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. You have five days in England & Wales, eight days in Scotland and five days in Northern Ireland—unless a coroner or procurator fiscal needs more time—to get the paperwork lodged.
Acting within those limits unlocks everything that follows. The registrar issues certified copies of the death certificate and the ‘Green Form’ (Form 14 in Scotland, GRO 21 in NI) that a crematorium or cemetery must hold before a funeral can happen. These documents also free up estates, stop benefit over-payments and feed the Tell Us Once system so government records update automatically. Miss the deadline and the funeral stalls, banks stay frozen and, in theory, you could face a fine.
Quick reference table: Deadlines & authorities by UK nation
| UK nation | Legal deadline | Where to register | Funeral release form |
|---|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | 5 days | District Register Office | Green Form (GR021) |
| Scotland | 8 days | Local Registration Office | Form 14 |
| Northern Ireland | 5 days | District Registrar | GRO 21 |
The Legal Priority List: Who Has First Right to Register
The Registration Acts set a clear pecking order for the informant—the person whose signature makes the entry legally valid. Sticking to this order avoids disputes and stops the registrar from having to turn people away. Think of it as a queue: if the first-in-line relative is willing and able, no one else should jump ahead. If they cannot attend, the next category moves up, and so on.
1. Close relatives by blood or marriage / civil partnership
By default, the law expects a close relative to shoulder the job. For the purposes of “who can register a death in UK law”, a relative means:
- surviving spouse or civil partner
- parent or legal adoptive parent
- child (including adopted)
- brother or sister
- grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle (if nearer relatives are unavailable)
Step-children and step-parents only qualify if they held formal parental responsibility or were the deceased’s legal guardian. Married or civil-partnered couples outrank adult children; adult children outrank siblings. Only one person signs, but they should take basic ID for themselves and details of all other close relatives so the register entry is complete.
2. Relatives of a stillborn or infant
Where a baby is stillborn or dies shortly after birth, either parent with parental responsibility may register. If the parents are unmarried, both can attend so that parentage is recorded correctly, but only one ultimately signs. The registrar will make two linked entries—one for the birth, one for the death.
3. In the absence of a relative
If no eligible relative is available, willing or mentally capable, the right passes down the chain to:
- any adult present at the death
- the person arranging the funeral
- the occupier of the premises where the death occurred
These alternative informants are covered in detail in the next section.
Acceptable Informants When No Relative Can Attend
Families are not always on hand—or even in existence. When that happens the law allows other trustworthy adults to step up so the death can still be recorded within the statutory window. Registrars will ask each person in turn, following a fixed hierarchy. If you fall into one of the groups below, take proof of your connection to the deceased (for instance, a care-home ID badge or the funeral invoice) along with the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
Someone present at the death
Any adult who actually witnessed the death, or was in immediate attendance during the final illness, may register. That could be a close friend, a neighbour who popped in daily, a hospice nurse, or another care-home resident. Hospitals often nominate the ward clerk or bereavement nurse if no family arrive.
The person arranging the funeral
If you have signed the cremation application, accepted the funeral director’s estimate, or otherwise taken contractual responsibility for the send-off, you qualify as the “person causing the body to be buried or cremated”. Executors and professional funeral directors frequently use this provision.
The occupier of the premises where the death occurred
Where the death happens in an institution—care home, prison, hotel, even a private house—the manager, governor or householder may act. Their duty is practical: certify the facts so the body can be released.
Coroner’s officer or other legally recognised official
In coroner or procurator fiscal cases, the investigating officer can register or authorise another official to do so, especially where no suitable civilian informant exists.
Order of fallback informants
- Person present at the death
- Person arranging the funeral
- Occupier of the premises
- Coroner’s or fiscal officer
If you sit highest on this list, you’re the registrar’s preferred choice.
Special Situations That Change Who Can Register
Most deaths follow the standard family-first order, but a handful of circumstances override the usual rules. The registrar will lean on different people—or official paperwork—when one of the scenarios below applies.
Coroner / Procurator Fiscal cases
If the death is sudden, violent or unexplained, the coroner (England, Wales, NI) or procurator fiscal (Scotland) takes charge. Once the investigation ends they issue Form 100A (no inquest) or 100B (after inquest), and can nominate their officer to act as informant when no relative is readily available.
Deaths abroad or on UK-registered vessels
A death on a British ship is entered in the ship’s log by the master; on an aircraft, the captain fulfils the same duty. For deaths overseas, the local civil authority registers first, then the family (or consular staff) file the details with the General Register Office on return to the UK.
No known next of kin or unidentified bodies
When nobody can be traced, the local authority, hospital bereavement office or police inspector becomes the statutory informant. They may also arrange a Public Health Act funeral so the cremation or burial is not delayed.
Organ donation, post-mortem or retained organs
Additional medical procedures can hold up the Medical Certificate. Once paperwork is released, the usual hierarchy resumes, but hospital bereavement teams often register on behalf of the family to spare further trips.
Military deaths
For service personnel dying on duty or abroad, the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre supplies the registrar with verified details, and an appointed military welfare officer usually signs as informant.
Documents and Information the Registrar Will Ask For
Turning up with the right paperwork saves a second trip and speeds up everything that follows, from ordering copies of the death certificate to booking the cremation slot. Below is exactly what registrars across the UK expect, what is merely helpful, and what they hand back to you before you leave the office.
Mandatory paperwork you must bring
- Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) signed by a doctor – without it the registrar cannot open the register.
- Coroner or procurator fiscal form (100A, 100B or equivalent) if the death has been referred.
- Your own proof of identity (passport, photocard driving licence or council-issued ID badge). This is not a legal requirement but most registrars will insist for fraud-prevention.
Helpful documents if available
Bring what you can; don’t panic if something is missing.
- The deceased’s NHS medical card or number
- Birth and marriage/civil-partnership certificates
- Council Tax or utility bill confirming the last address
- Armed Forces service book or pension paperwork (for military deaths)
Personal details the registrar will ask you to confirm
You’ll need to state these verbally, so jot them down beforehand:
- Full name of the deceased and any former names
- Date and place of birth
- Last permanent address and usual occupation
- Marital or civil-partnership status, plus surviving spouse/partner’s full name and occupation
- NHS number (if known)
What you receive before you leave
- At least one certified copy of the death entry (often called the death certificate).
- Funeral authorisation: Green Form (England & Wales), Form 14 (Scotland) or GRO 21 (Northern Ireland).
- A Tell Us Once reference sheet so government departments can be notified in one go.
Costs and how to pay
| Document | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate copy (each) | £11 | £10 | £10 |
Most offices accept debit/credit cards; some rural sites still take cash. Order extra copies now—many banks, insurers and pension providers demand originals, and it is cheaper than applying later via the General Register Office.
Booking and Attending the Registration Appointment
Once you have the doctor’s certificate, the clock is ticking, so secure an appointment quickly. Every council runs its own diary system, but the basic drill is the same nationwide.
Choosing the correct Register Office
You should attend the office covering the district where the death occurred. If that is impractical you may give a “registration by declaration” at any office; the papers are then posted on, adding a day or two.
How to book: phone, online, or walk-in
Most councils offer an online calendar; others ask you to ring the registrar’s desk. Walk-ins are now rare, so always book ahead and quote the Medical Certificate reference.
COVID-era and ongoing digital options
Temporary telephone registrations ended in England in 2022, but shielded or overseas informants can sometimes register remotely—check local guidance when booking.
What happens during the appointment
The registrar reads each detail back to you, types it into the electronic register, prints a draft, then asks you to sign. You pay, receive certificates and the Green Form; the whole thing takes about 25 minutes.
Taking someone with you
You may bring a relative, friend or support worker for moral support. Only one person signs as the informant, but interpreters or carers are welcome if pre-arranged.
Common Questions People Ask
Even with the basics covered, families still hit the same stumbling blocks at the register office. Below are the four queries registrars hear almost daily and the straight-to-the-point answers.
Can two people be named on the registration?
Only one person signs as the informant and appears on the legal entry. A second relative may sit in, but their details are not recorded in the register.
Can I register a death online only?
No. You can book the slot and use the Tell Us Once portal online, yet the legal act still requires an in-person signature (or, in rare cases, a telephone declaration arranged by the registrar).
How do I correct a mistake after the death is registered?
Apply to the General Register Office with form LA1, explaining the error and providing evidence. Fees currently run £75–£90, and amended certificates are re-issued.
What if the death is referred back to the registrar after new information?
The registrar will contact the original informant, make an official marginal note or re-open the entry, and issue replacement certificates so funeral or probate work is not derailed.
In Short
Any UK death must be recorded within five (or eight in Scotland) days. The registrar will look first to a spouse or civil partner, then parents, children and other close relatives. If family cannot act, the law hands the duty to whoever was present at the death, the person organising the funeral, the occupier of the premises, or—after a coroner’s case—an appointed official. Take the doctor’s Medical Certificate, ID for yourself, and enough facts about the deceased to complete the entry. You will leave with certified copies of the death certificate and the Green Form (or Form 14/GRO 21) that lets the cremation or burial proceed.
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