Registering a Death - Warwickshire Web

Registering a Death

This page explains when, where and how you register a persons death , and outlines the information the Registrar will require from you.

The information contained within these pages is available in large print or on audiotape. Please
e-mail or write to us to request a copy

A translation, interpreting and sign language service is available upon request.
Download our leaflet

Download the Registering a Death leaflet - PDF - 0.6MB

Before a death can be registered: -

A death will be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths in the district in which the death occurred. (please click here for a full list of addresses and telephone numbers of the Register Offices within Warwickshire). A death should be registered within 5 days, unless the Registrar says that this period may be extended. If it is not convenient to visit the Register Office for the district in which the death occurred you can go to any other Register Office in England and Wales to make a death declaration.

To prevent unnecessary waiting all register offices in Warwickshire offer appointments. Please telephone to make an appointment as soon as the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued to you. Please take the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death with you when you attend the Register Office.

In certain circumstances the death will have to be referred to the Coroner by the doctor or by the Registrar. The Coroner may do one of three things:

1.He may decide no action is necessary and inform the Registrar accordingly.
2.He may decide to hold a post-mortem examination in which case a Pink Form 100 will be issued by the Coroner to be used instead of the medical certificate.
3.He may decide to hold an inquest. The Coroner's Officer or Registrar will advise you what to do in these circumstances.

Further information on the coroner.

It is preferred that a relative of the deceased registers the death. If there are no relatives then it is possible for other persons to register. Such persons may be someone present at the death, a senior administrator of the establishment in which the death occurred or the person instructing the funeral director.

You should allow approximately 30 minutes for the registration. However in some circumstances the Registrar may have to refer to the Coroner which may result in further time being necessary.

The Registrar will require the following information:

The date and place of death.
The full name of the deceased (and maiden name where appropriate)
The date and place of birth of the deceased
The deceased's occupation and the full names and occupation of the spouse if married.
The deceased's usual address
Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds
If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the spouse
Either the National Health Service number of the deceased, if known, or the medical card itself, if available, should be handed to the Registrar. Please do not delay registration if the medical card is not available.

After the death has been registered, the Registrar will issue you with two certificates. These are as follows:

A Certificate for Burial or Cremation – (known as the Green Form) is for you to take to the funeral director so that the funeral can take place. In some circumstances the Coroner issues this.

A Certificate of Registration of Death (Form BD8/344) – is for Social Security purposes. Please read the back of the form in your own time. Please complete it and return it to your local Social Security Office.

You may also need to purchase some death certificates. A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The Registrar will advise you as to the type and number of certificates that you may need.

Standard Death Certificates – These may be required by banks, building societies, solicitors or for pension claims and some insurance claims. You may wish to ask for several copies of the standard death certificate at the same time of registration as the price may increase if you need more at a later date.

Leaflets relating to benefits and help with funeral expenses are also available from the Registrar. If you have any questions which are not answered in these pages, the Registrar will be pleased to help you.

Please click here for full Register Office contact details.

What service standards can I expect from the Warwickshire Registration Service when registering a death?

The Warwickshire Registration Service aims to provide a continual high level of service standards.
Our specific service standards relating to registering a death are: -

to offer you an appointment with a Registrar within 2 working days of making contact with the office
to forward information relating to a death, required by law to be registered in another district (a death declaration) to that district on the same day
to see 90% of our customers attending with an appointment within 10 minutes of that appointment time
to see 90% of our customers attending without an appointment within 30 minutes of their arrival

If you have any comments to make about our service "comment cards" are available at all offices. Alternatively you can speak to any member of staff, write or e-mail the Registration Services Manager.

For advice on any aspect of what to do when someone dies, particularly on Probate, Benefits and Tax issues, contact the Bereavement Advice Centre on 08006349494 (free of charge from UK landlines) or see their website.

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Registering a Death


This page explains when, where and how you register a persons death , and outlines the information the Registrar will require from you. The information contained within these pages is available in large print or on audiotape. Please e-mail or write to us to request a copy A translation, interpreting and sign language service is available upon request.	Download our leaflet Download the Registering a Death leaflet - PDF - 0.6MB

Before a death can be registered: -

A death will be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths in the district in which the death occurred. (please click here for a full list of addresses and telephone numbers of the Register Offices within Warwickshire). A death should be registered within 5 days, unless the Registrar says that this period may be extended. If it is not convenient to visit the Register Office for the district in which the death occurred you can go to any other Register Office in England and Wales to make a death declaration. To prevent unnecessary waiting all register offices in Warwickshire offer appointments. Please telephone to make an appointment as soon as the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued to you. Please take the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death with you when you attend the Register Office.



In certain circumstances the death will have to be referred to the Coroner by the doctor or by the Registrar. The Coroner may do one of three things: 1.He may decide no action is necessary and inform the Registrar accordingly. 2.He may decide to hold a post-mortem examination in which case a Pink Form 100 will be issued by the Coroner to be used instead of the medical certificate. 3.He may decide to hold an inquest. The Coroner's Officer or Registrar will advise you what to do in these circumstances. Further information on the coroner.



It is preferred that a relative of the deceased registers the death. If there are no relatives then it is possible for other persons to register. Such persons may be someone present at the death, a senior administrator of the establishment in which the death occurred or the person instructing the funeral director. You should allow approximately 30 minutes for the registration. However in some circumstances the Registrar may have to refer to the Coroner which may result in further time being necessary. The Registrar will require the following information: The date and place of death. The full name of the deceased (and maiden name where appropriate) The date and place of birth of the deceased The deceased's occupation and the full names and occupation of the spouse if married. The deceased's usual address Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the spouse Either the National Health Service number of the deceased, if known, or the medical card itself, if available, should be handed to the Registrar. Please do not delay registration if the medical card is not available.



After the death has been registered, the Registrar will issue you with two certificates. These are as follows: A Certificate for Burial or Cremation – (known as the Green Form) is for you to take to the funeral director so that the funeral can take place. In some circumstances the Coroner issues this. A Certificate of Registration of Death (Form BD8/344) – is for Social Security purposes. Please read the back of the form in your own time. Please complete it and return it to your local Social Security Office. You may also need to purchase some death certificates. A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The Registrar will advise you as to the type and number of certificates that you may need. Standard Death Certificates – These may be required by banks, building societies, solicitors or for pension claims and some insurance claims. You may wish to ask for several copies of the standard death certificate at the same time of registration as the price may increase if you need more at a later date.



Leaflets relating to benefits and help with funeral expenses are also available from the Registrar. If you have any questions which are not answered in these pages, the Registrar will be pleased to help you. Please click here for full Register Office contact details.

What service standards can I expect from the Warwickshire Registration Service when registering a death?

The Warwickshire Registration Service aims to provide a continual high level of service standards. Our specific service standards relating to registering a death are: -

to offer you an appointment with a Registrar within 2 working days of making contact with the office to forward information relating to a death, required by law to be registered in another district (a death declaration) to that district on the same day to see 90% of our customers attending with an appointment within 10 minutes of that appointment time to see 90% of our customers attending without an appointment within 30 minutes of their arrival

If you have any comments to make about our service "comment cards" are available at all offices. Alternatively you can speak to any member of staff, write or e-mail the Registration Services Manager. For advice on any aspect of what to do when someone dies, particularly on Probate, Benefits and Tax issues, contact the Bereavement Advice Centre on 08006349494 (free of charge from UK landlines) or see their website.