Registration of Deaths

Where do I register a death?

The Registration Service in County Durham consists of a single unified registration district divided into four main areas..

By law a death must be registered in the registration district where it occurred. However you can visit any register office in England or Wales and give details and these will be passed to the appropriate district, (Registering a death outside the area where it occurred will result in a delay in receiving the death certificate.)

Who may register a death?

One of the following persons has a legal obligation to register the death:

• A relative of the deceased
• A person present at the death
• A person arranging the funeral (not the undertaker)
• A person who is a registered civil partner

In certain circumstances others, such as the administrator of an elderly persons' home can register a death.

When does a death need to be registered?

The death must normally be registered within five days unless the Coroner is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

What will I need to bring with me?

You will need to bring a medical certificate of the cause of death issued by a doctor who has attended the deceased.

If the death has been referred to the Coroner, the Coroner's Officer will advise you what to do.

It is useful to have the birth certificate or passport of the deceased with you, but it is not essential.

Will the registrar give me any documents on completing the registration?

Yes, the Registrar will issue you with a form to take to the undertaker (in some cases it may be issued by the Coroner). You will also be given another form which should be taken or forwarded to the DSS, in respect of state pensions and benefits.

I may need to purchase death certificates for other purposes. Can I obtain these?

Yes. The standard death certificate can be shown to banks, building societies, insurance companies, the post office, company pension schemes and used as a record of the death for family members.