Registering the death

Who may go to register?

If the person died in a house or hospital, the death can be registered by:

  • A relative

  • Someone present at the death

  • The person who found the body

  • The person in charge of the body

  • The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

Deaths occurred anywhere else can be registered by:

  • A relative

  • Someone present at the death

  • The person who found the body

  • The person in charge of the body

  • The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

Most deaths are registered by a relative. The registrar would normally only allow other people if there are no relatives available.

Stillbirth

A stillbirth normally needs to be registered within 42 days and at the latest within 3 months. In many cases this can be done either at the hospital or at the local register office.

Documents and information you will need

Documents

When registering a death you will need to take the following:

  • Medical Certificate of the cause of Death (signed by a doctor)

And if available:

  • Birth certificate

  • NHS medical card

  • Marriage / civil partnership certificates

Information

You'll need to tell the registrar:

  • The person's full name at time of death

  • Any names previously used, including maiden surnames

  • The persons dare and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK and country if born abroad)

  • Their last address

  • Their occupation

  • The full name, date of birth, and occupation of surviving spouse or civil partner

  • Whether they where receiving a state pension or any other state benefit.

Documents you will receive

If a post-mortem is not being held, the registrar will issue you with:

  • A certificate for burial or cremation (called the "green form"), giving permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made

  • A certificate of registration of death (form BD8) issued for social security purposes if the person received a state pension or benefits (please read the form on the back, complete and return it, if it applies)

  • A Bereavement Registration Form

If a post-mortem is being held to determine the cause of death and the deceased is to be cremated the Coroner will issue:

Form Cremation 6 certificate of Coroner.

You'll be able to buy one or more Death Certificates at this time; these will be needed by the executor or administrator when sorting out the personal affairs.

The Registrar will also give you a booklet called "what to do after a death." This offers advice on probate and other administrative issues that will need to be done around this time.

Lancaster Registration Office

Georgian House, 4 Queen Street Lancaster LA1 1RS

A historic stone building with multiple windows and a centered entrance, located on a city street.
Map of Lancaster showing street names, landmarks, businesses such as KFC and Starbucks, and a registration office location.

Lancashire Registration Office, Preston

The Register Office, Bow Lane, Preston PR1 8SE

Exterior of a Lancashire County Register of Deeds building with a coat of arms and a sign on a brick wall.
A map showing the location of Lancashire Registration Service, Lancashire Archives, Lancashire County Council, and nearby streets and rail lines in Preston, UK.