Registering a death: what to expect from the first step

You've just lost someone, and there's already a process to follow. It can feel wrong that the paperwork and admin starts this soon.

Registering the death is the very first task in front of you. It has to happen within a few days, and once it's done, everything else, including the funeral and, eventually, the estate itself, can move forward.

Here's what the process actually involves, so you know what to expect.

When you need to register

You need to register the death within a set number of days. The deadline varies slightly by nation:

• England and Wales: 5 days. Since September 2024, this window starts once the register office has received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the medical examiner, not necessarily from the date of death itself.
• Scotland: 8 days from the date of death.
• Northern Ireland: 5 days from the date of death.

These deadlines include weekends and bank holidays. If a coroner, or in Scotland the Procurator Fiscal, is involved, the deadline is paused until their enquiries are complete. You cannot register the death until that paperwork is released.

If you think you'll miss the deadline for any other reason, contact your local register office and explain what's happening. They handle this often and will guide you.

Who can register the death

In most cases, a close relative registers the death, usually someone who was present at the death or during the person's last illness. Exactly who qualifies varies a little by nation, but if you're the next of kin or the person arranging the funeral, you can normally register, even if you're not yet formally named as executor.

If you're unsure whether you qualify, the register office will tell you when you book your appointment.

What you'll need

Before you can register, you need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This is issued by the doctor who attended the person, or by the hospital. Without it, you can't register, unless a coroner is involved, in which case they'll release the relevant paperwork once their enquiries are finished.

It also helps to bring, if you can find them:

• The person's birth certificate
• Their marriage or civil partnership certificate, if applicable
• Their NHS medical card or number

You don't need all of these to hand. The registrar will confirm exactly what's required when you book, and the appointment can still go ahead without them.

You'll also need your own ID, and to know how you're related to the person who died.

What happens at the appointment

Registration is usually done in person, at the register office for the area where the death occurred. Some offices now offer telephone appointments in specific circumstances, such as illness or disability preventing travel, so it's worth asking. Book through your local council or GOV.UK.

The appointment normally takes 30 to 45 minutes. The registrar will ask for details about the person who died: full name, date and place of birth, last address, and occupation. They'll also record your own details as the informant.

At the end, you'll receive:

• The green form, which gives permission for the funeral to go ahead. Hand this to the funeral director straightaway.
• The option to buy certified copies of the death certificate.

How many death certificates to order

Order more than you think you'll need, and order them at the appointment itself. It's cheaper and faster than ordering extra copies later.

Most estates need five to ten certified copies. Banks, pension providers, insurers, and the probate registry will each usually want an original, not a photocopy.

Certificate costs vary a little by nation (roughly £10 to £15 per copy as of 2026), so check the current price when you book.

Tell Us Once

In England, Wales, and Scotland, the registrar will usually offer you the Tell Us Once service. It notifies several government departments, including HMRC, the DWP, and the DVLA, in a single step, so you don't have to contact each one individually. It isn't available in Northern Ireland, where each department needs to be told separately.

This is the first step, not the whole task

Registering the death unlocks everything that follows: the funeral, the death certificate, and eventually the estate itself. It's a lot to take in over just a few days, especially while you're grieving.

You don't have to work out the rest on your own. Once the death is registered, EstateCopilot can help with what comes next: valuing the estate, working out whether inheritance tax is due, and filling in the right probate forms for whichever UK jurisdiction applies to you.

If you'd like a fuller overview of the whole process before you get started, our free guide walks through it from here to the final distribution.