Registering a Death

When to register

A death should normally be registered within 5 days. The doctor who treated the person during their last illness will usually issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. In certain circumstances, if the death is referred to the Coroner, registration may be delayed. Wait to hear from the Coroner before going to the Register Office. He will advise you when to make an appointment to see the Registrar.

Where to register

You should register the death with the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the area where the person died. (For details of where to register in Rotherham see opening hours/appointments/outstations.)

If you are registering the death of someone who died in another town it is still possible for information for the registration to be given at your local Register Office. Ask the Registrar to explain the procedure in more detail.

Who can register

The following people can register a person's death: -

A relative
someone who was with the person when they died
someone who lives at the address where the person died
someone who is arranging the funeral (but not the Funeral Director)

Information the registrar will need to know

You will be interviewed in private by a Registrar and asked personal questions about the person who has died. You will need to know: -

The date of their death
Where they died
Their full name
Their date of birth
Where they were born
Their occupation
Their address

If married or widowed, their husband/wife's full name and present or last occupation plus their date of birth,

If the person who has died was a married woman, the Registrar will also need to know:
Her maiden surname

Certificates/Documents/Cost

Documents you will need to bring
If the doctor who was treating the deceased has issued a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death you must bring this with you. If you are able to bring the Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and Medical Card this will help, but these documents are not essential.


Documents you will be given
Once the death has been registered you will be issued with a form which will allow you to make the funeral arrangements (the 'green form'). This is for the Funeral Director and is issued free of charge.

You will also be given another free form for the Social Security Office. This is to deal with the pension or other state benefits which the person may have received.

'Death certificates'

There is no charge for registering a death, but you may need copy death certificates. The kind of things these may be required for are: -

Bank and Building Society Accounts
Insurance Companies
Probate or Letters of Administration
Solicitor
Stocks and Shares
Premium Bonds
Private/Works Pension

There is a fee of £3.50 for each certificate issued.

There may be many other reasons why you will be asked to produce a death certificate.
If you do not purchase enough certificates you can buy more at a later date, but there may be additional cost if more than a month has elapsed.

Death Certificates are protected under Crown Copyright and should not be photocopied.

More information/useful telephone numbers

Coroner's Office
(01709) 832031

Bereavement Liaison Officer
Department of Social Security
Portland House
Mansfield Road
Rotherham S60 2EA
(01709) 722101

Sheffield Probate Office
PO Box 832
The Law Courts
50 West Bar
Sheffield S3 8YR
(0114) 281 2596

Age Concern
49 St Ann's Road
Rotherham
(01709) 829621

Cruse Bereavement Care
Newman Court
Rotherham
(01709) 564205


Funeral Directors are listed in the Yellow Pages and Thomson's Directory.