Deaths, funerals, cremations and cemeteries

Register a Death

Death Registration:

  • The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) is to be scanned and sent electronically from either the GP, Bereavement Centre or Coroner’s Office directly to the Register Office. This will include contact details for the next of kin.
  • Please note where there is no Coroner involvement, the General Register Office requires a death to be registered within 5 days.
  • The Register Office will then contact the next of kin to arrange a face-to-face appointment to register the death. You will be asked how many death certificates you will require, certificates cost £11 each and you may need a number of these to deal with the deceased’s estate. The certificates will then be issued to you following completion of the registration when you attend your appointment.
  • All death registrations will take place in a face-to-face appointment. You will need to attend at the Register Office, Riverside House, Main Street, Rotherham, S60 1AE for your appointment. Please ensure you arrive on time for your appointment. There is on street parking available on Main Street with nearby Forge Island and Statutes public car parks also within a short walking distance.
  • When you register the death the registration officer will ‘capture’ the information and issue you with an access code to use the Tell Us Once service provided by the Department for Work and Pensions in order for you to notify central and local government agencies about the death of your loved one. Further information is available below
  • After the death registration appointment has been completed the Registrar will send the Green Form 9 electronically to the Crematorium, Funeral Director and the hospital mortuary as appropriate. This will allow the body to be released.
  • More certificates can be ordered online after the registration if you find that you require more, these are also available at £11 each and can be ordered here Order a copy death certificate

Contacting the Register Office:

  • Within working hours (Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm) please contact the Register Office on 01709 823542 (option 2).
  • The on-call Registrar for the out of hours burial service can be contacted on 07748142634, 07717456795 or 07557312859 on Saturdays or Sundays between the hours of 9am and 1pm. The service is not available on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. Please note: the Registrar must have received the valid Medical Cause of Death Certificate and any associated forms from the Coroner by 1pm in order for a burial certificate to be issued.
  • The service is not available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.
  • Only one immediate family member must act as a point of contact between to undertake a registration or arrange a short notice burial in accordance with faith or cultural practice. 

Tell Us Once Service

When you register the death the registration officer will ‘capture’ the information and issue you with an access code to use the Tell Us Once service provided by the Department for Work and Pensions in order for you to notify central and local government agencies about the death of your loved one.

The short information video here explains the Tell Us Once service in more detail.

You will be asked for specific information to cancel things like a passport or driving licence as well as the National Insurance number of the person who has died. Tell Us Once can notify:

  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – to deal with tax and cancel benefits, for example, tax credits and personal tax
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - to cancel benefits or entitlements, for example, State Pension, Universal Credit or Income Support
  • Her Majesty’s Passport Office – to cancel a British passport (you’ll need the passport number and town of birth)
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) - to cancel a driving licence (you’ll need the licence number) and remove the person as the keeper of up to 5 vehicles (you'll need the vehicle(s) registration) Road tax is not transferable - You must re-tax the vehicle(s) before being driven
  • the local council – to update records, cancel services or benefits, for example Blue Badge or Housing Benefit
  • public sector or armed forces pension schemes – to stop pension payments (you’ll need their National Insurance number)

You'll also need the name, address, telephone number and their permission before giving the details of:

  • the surviving spouse or civil partner, along with their National Insurance number and/or date of birth
  • next of kin (closest relative by blood or marriage)
  • the person or company dealing with the deceased’s estate/affairs (property, belongings and money)

Support following a Bereavement:

Listening Ear

A support service was launched in April 2020 that provides access to free, confidential support during the Coronavirus Pandemic for those who have lost a loved one and those who need support, guidance and advice. This service is called Listening Ear.

Who can refer you/others to the Listening Ear service?

  • Self
  • Police
  • Primary Care Staff
  • Hospital bereavement services staff
  • Mortuary staff
  • Funeral directors
  • Coroner’s office
  • GP’s
  • Crematorium and bereavement services staff
  • Community and Faith organisations

For meaningful support, advice and guidance call freephone 0800 048 5224 or visit http://www.listening-ear.co.uk/refer

Available Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm

RotherHive

To support mental health and wellbeing a new service called RotherHive has been launched online. RotherHive provides a range of verified practical mental health and wellbeing information, support and advice for adults in Rotherham which includes bereavement support.

Visit the RotherHive website