Day 1 of 14: you have 5 days to register a death in England and Wales

How to Register a Death in England and Wales (The 5-Day Rule)

ByLife Admin Made Simple

In England and Wales, a death must be registered within five days. Weekends and bank holidays count. It’s the only fixed deadline in the first fortnight, so it’s the right place to start.

This 30-second video covers the three steps. The detail is below.

Step 1: Wait for the cause of death to be confirmed

Before you can register, the cause of death has to be confirmed. The doctor who cared for the person reports it, and a senior independent doctor called a medical examiner reviews it. The medical examiner’s office will usually call you to explain what they found and give you a chance to ask questions.

The register office normally waits for this before booking you in. If the death has been referred to a coroner, registration waits until the coroner has finished, and the five-day clock doesn’t apply in the usual way. The coroner’s office will tell you when you can go ahead.

Step 2: Book the register office

Book an appointment at the register office for the area where the person died. That may not be where they lived. If the death happened in a hospital or hospice in another town, it’s that town’s office you need. Most councils take bookings online or by phone.

Usually a relative registers the death. Someone who was present at the death, or the person arranging the funeral, can also do it.

Take these details with you:

  • Full name, including any previous names such as a maiden name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Last address
  • Occupation, or last occupation if retired
  • Details of a husband, wife or civil partner
  • Whether they received a state pension or other benefits

If you have them, bring their birth certificate, passport, driving licence or a council tax bill. They help the registrar get every detail right first time.

Step 3: Keep the green form safe

You’ll leave the register office with a certificate for burial or cremation, usually called the green form. Give it to the funeral director as soon as you can. The funeral can’t go ahead without it. If you lose it, call the register office straight away.

Two questions to ask while you’re there

“Can I use Tell Us Once?” This free government service tells HMRC, the DWP, the Passport Office, DVLA and the local council in one go. The registrar gives you a reference number, and you have 28 days to use it. It doesn’t cover Northern Ireland.

“Can I order extra certified copies now?” Banks, pension providers and insurers often want a certified copy of the death certificate rather than a photocopy. It’s easier to order several on the day than to go back later.

What comes next

Once the death is registered, the hardest deadline is behind you. The next jobs are finding the will, checking who the executors are, and starting a simple log of every call and reference number. It sounds small. By month three, it’s the thing you’ll be most glad you did.

Get the free First 14 Days checklist. It sets out one clear job a day for the first two weeks, so nothing gets missed.

This guide covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules. Check GOV.UK: What to do after someone dies for official guidance.