Death is a part of life, but when someone we love passes away, it can be devastating for us and everyone involved. The death of a person can be sudden, or it can happen after a terminal illness, but it is no less distressing for either. But in the midst of having to deal with a person’s death, we also have to deal with other details, and this includes registering their death. You should first receive a medical certificate before you can register a person’s death, but once you receive the medical certificate, it is necessary to register the death. So what is involved in the process, and what requirements and information do you need to present? Here are the most important facts you need to know about registering a death in the UK.
When to do it
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the registration of a person’s death should be done five days after they have passed away, and in Scotland, the time limit is eight days. But if the coroner demands an inquest, especially if the person passes away unexpectedly or the cause of death cannot yet be determined, the registration can be delayed.
How to do it
The registration process will depend on the country where the person lived, so if they lived in England and Wales, the registration would be done at the Register Office. If the person resided in Northern Ireland, registration would be at the District Registration Office, and if they lived in Scotland, the process would be done at the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
The costs
The registration of a person’s death will be free, but in order to get the certificate, there is a fee of £11 if you are in England or Wales, a fee of £12 if you are in Scotland, and a fee of £15 if you are in Northern Ireland.
Chances are, you might need more copies of the certificate later on, and getting it at a later date may be more expensive, so it’s best to get as many copies as you can once you file it. Having more copies also allows you to deal with various organisations all at the same time rather than waiting for the certificate to be returned by an organisation before you can move on to the next one.
The documents you need
To properly register the death, you need certain documents. This includes the medical certificate, as already mentioned, plus, if they are available, the person’s birth certificate, their civil partnership or marriage certificate, their NI number and medical card with the NHS, a proof of their residence or address, such as a utility bill, and their passport and driving licence.
When you register the death, you should also provide the register with the person’s complete name, their place and date of birth, last known address, occupation, and the complete name of their civil partner or spouse, whether deceased or surviving.
Once the registration process is done, you will get a burial/cremation certificate, the death certificate, and relevant leaflets that can help you with the arrangements of the funeral. For the funeral arrangement, you can turn to an expert such as a funeral director from Carrollandcarrollfunerals.co.uk who can be your best professional ally during this trying time.
