How soon must you register a death?
In England and Wales a death must be registered within five days— Scotland allows eight. In practice the clock matters less than the paperwork: you cannot register until a doctor has issued the medical certificate, and if the coroner is involved you must wait for the coroner's documents. Register offices understand this — just book as early as you can. Appointments typically last 30–40 minutes.
What happens at a death-registration appointment?
The registrar will ask for the deceased's full name (and any previous names), date and place of birth, occupation, usual address, and — for a married person — the surviving spouse's details and date of birth. You check and sign the register entry. You will leave with:
- Death certificates (£12.50 each) — order several originals for banks and insurers.
- A certificate for burial or cremation (the "green form") — free, and needed by the funeral director.
- A Tell Us Once reference number — see how Tell Us Once works.
- Form BD8 if the person received a state pension or benefits (often handled via Tell Us Once now).
What commonly goes wrong when registering a death?
- Wrong district: you can register by declaration at your local office, but certificates arrive days later — go to the right district if speed matters.
- Coroner cases: the coroner sends paperwork directly to the registrar and will tell you when you can book. An interim death certificate covers most admin in the meantime.
- Missing documents: helpful, not essential. The registration can proceed on the information you give.
- Stillbirths and neonatal deaths have a different registration process — the hospital or register office will guide you.
What should you do after registering a death?
Registration unlocks everything else: the funeral can go ahead, Tell Us Once can be submitted, and banks and pension providers can act on the certificate. Follow the full sequence in our what to do when someone dies checklist, and check whether the estate needs probate with the probate checker.