Unfortunately, someone very important to you is no longer with us, and you will need to obtain a death certificate to show that they are no longer with us.
So, what is a death certificate?
A death certificate is a document obtained following a death in the United Kingdom. The certificate is a duplicate of the vital records on the death registry. A death certificate is required before arranging a funeral and administering the deceased’s estate.
If the dead died in the United Kingdom, Wales, or Northern Ireland, the death must be registered within 5 days after the death. If they died in Scotland, the death registration has an eight-day time limit.
How can you get a death certificate?
Before obtaining a death certificate, the death must first be registered at a registry office. It is not necessary to register a death. However, you must call ahead to schedule an appointment before visiting to register. Because register offices are normally highly busy, you may have to wait a long time or may not be seen if you simply show there. A typical appointment lasts about 30 minutes.
To avoid delays in paperwork, it is recommended that you visit the registry office closest to the individual’s place of death if they died in England or Wales. Any district or council registration office in Scotland or Northern Ireland can be used if the death happened there.
Locate your local register office using the resources below:
- Locate a register office in England and Wales
- Locate a register office in Scotland
- Locate a register office in Northern Island
If you are recording a death at a register office, you must have identification, such as a driver’s licence or passport. This will allow you to establish your identity and inform the register office of your relationship to the deceased.
It may also be beneficial to bring documentation pertaining to the dead, such as:
Driving licence
Passport
Birth certificate
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
NHS medical card
Proof of address, such as a bank statement or utility bill
Documents relating to a government pension or allowances
The registry office may be interested in knowing who you are in relation to the deceased, but who can actually obtain a death certificate? Most deaths are registered by a family member or relative, however this is not always the case. Deaths can also be reported using the following methods:
Someone who witnessed the death
The hospital’s administration (if the person died in hospital)
Someone in charge of funeral arrangements
While registering a death is free, obtaining a death certificate is not. It is customarily charged £11 for each copy of a death certificate.
In addition to money, you need need the deceased’s medical certificate to obtain a death certificate. This should be provided by the GP or the doctor in the hospital and should contain all details about the cause of death. The death certificate is available at the register office or online at the general register office website.
Why is a death certificate required?
A certificate is required before a funeral or cremation can be arranged. If a funeral director is used to arrange cremation or burial, a certificate must be shown before the day. It is also necessary to apply for probate, which is required when dealing with the deceased’s assets.
If you are the executor of the will or the executor of the estate, the certificate must be forwarded to several organisations. Banks and insurance companies, for example, will normally require the death certificate to be submitted to them as confirmation of departure.
Instead of a photocopy, the majority of organisations want an official copy of the certificate. The certificate is usually returned soon, but depending on how quickly you need to deal with matters, you may want to consider purchasing additional copies of the certificate.
Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and sadly, grieving brings bureaucracy. Hopefully, this has made dealing with the death of a loved one a little easier for you.
