Bereavement support
Grief is a natural reaction to loss and affects everyone differently. AB Walker understands this and offers aftercare support for those experiencing the loss of a loved one.
Our bereavement support
Registering a Death
Registering the death of a loved one is a necessary step, and there are some important details you’ll need to note. Here we cover the essential documentation and information, and provide some helpful links to make the process a little bit easier.
How to register a death
Before you can register the death, you need to go through some initial steps so that the death is officially confirmed and normally a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death issued. If you haven’t got that far yet, we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you know exactly what you need to do when someone dies.
The issuing of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death involves a new Medical Examiner service. This process is outline below and we can guide you through how it works.
Medical examiner service
The Medical Examiner is an independent senior Doctor. Their role is to review the medical records, speak to the treating Doctor and together agree on the wording for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
Within a few days of the death, the Medical Examiner’s office will contact you by phone. During the call, they will explain to you what the cause of death will be recorded as, or if a Coroner referral is required. You will have the opportunity to raise any questions about the cause of death or the care received.
Provided a Coroner referral is not required, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be sent to the register office local to the place of death.
A Medical Examiner Officer (if the death occurred at home or in a care home) or the bereavement team (for a death in hospital) will then call you to let you know the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been sent. You can now make an appointment with the Registrar.
When do I register the death?
The next step is to register the death. Contact your local register office and make an appointment. You usually need to register a person’s death within five days. The appointment with the registrar will take about 30 minutes.
Registration could be delayed if the death is referred to the coroner, but you can still start to arrange the funeral during this time.
Who can register a death?
A relative, partner or personal representative of the person who has died will usually register the death.
The death can also be registered by:
- Someone who was present when the death occurred
- An occupant of the house/official from the hospital where the death occurred
- The person making the funeral arrangements.
What documents and information do I need to register a death?
There are a number of documents and certain information that you will need to provide to the registrar:
Documents
- Birth certificate
- Marriage / civil partnership certificate (if they were married)
- NHS Medical Card (if available).
Information
- The person’s full name at time of death
- Any names previously used, including maiden name, if applicable
- The person’s date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK; country if born abroad)
- Their address
- Their occupation
- The full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving spouse or civil partner if applicable
- Whether they were receiving a state pension or any other state benefit.
Where do I need to register a death?
You will need to use a register’s office in the area of the person who died. Find the local register office here. You can use another office if you prefer but it may take longer to get the necessary documents and this could delay the funeral arrangements.
The appointment with the registrar will take about 30 minutes.
What will the registrar issue?
- A death certificate
- A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (called the ‘green form’) for the funeral director
- Form BD8 relating to the DSS and state pension.
They will also explain the Government’s ‘Tell Us Once Service’ to you. This service allows you to report a death to most government offices in one go.
You may wish to purchase extra copies of the death certificate to satisfy bank, insurance and pension requirements.
Resources
Frequently asked questions
Yes, all deaths in the UK need to registered.
A relative, partner or personal representative of the person who has died will usually register the death.
The death can also be registered by:
- Someone who was present when the death occurred
- An occupant of the house/official from the hospital where the death occurred
- The person making the funeral arrangements.
It is free to register a death. There is a charge to receive a copy of the death certificate. The current cost is £12.50 per copy.
You will need to use a register’s office in the area of the person who died. You can find links to our local register offices here.
No, you must attend an appointment in person at a register office.
Yes, you can start arranging the funeral before registering the death. However, the death must be registered before the funeral can occur.
The death will need to be registered in the area where the death occurred, even if the death occurred a distance from home. We have included links to our local register offices or you can use the government’s ‘Find a register office’ service.
Deaths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should be registered within 5 days of being notified that the Medical Certificate Cause of Death has been sent to the register office. In Scotland, deaths must be registered within 8 days.
When you attend the appointment, you should take along the birth certificate, marriage / civil partnership certificate (if they were married) and NHS Medical Card for the person who has died – if available.
If a death is reported to the coroner, the documents and process involved in registering a death may be different, depending on the coroner’s decision. The government’s website provides an overview of the requirements depending on the coroner’s decision.
You must register a death with the local authorities of the country where the person died.
The British Embassy in that country can help you, and the country-specific information produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides more information on this.
If the person is being brought back to the UK, you will also need to register the death in the UK at a local register office.
Arranging a funeral
AB Walker works with you to create the right funeral for your loved one. Whether you choose a traditional or modern service, one without ceremony or a bespoke, specialist service, your needs are met with care, compassion, and professionalism.
Supporting you
We know this very likely to be a difficult time for you, so we’ve found different ways to support you through it.
Support with practical matters
From house clearance to informing organisations that a loved one has died, we’ve shared information and contacts of businesses to help you.
Practical support
You can contact us 24/7
Email or call us with your questions, queries and requirements. For urgent assistance, call us on 0118 957 3650 24 hours a day, seven days a week.