When should I register a death in the UK?

 Why it’s important to register a death promptly 

In the UK, registering a death is a legal requirement under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. Without a registered death certificate, you won’t be able to arrange a funeral, close bank accounts, or begin any official estate matters. 

By law, a death must usually be registered within five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (or eight days in Scotland). This includes weekends and public holidays, so it’s best to make an appointment with the local registrar as soon as the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been issued. There is a still complication here: currently the medical examiner is delayed – it can take up to 10 working days for them to contact the family to issue the MCCD. However, you will not be penalised if a delay on the part of the medical examiner makes it impossible for you to register the death within five days. 

However, some delays can occur naturally — for example, if the coroner is involved or if there are delays in obtaining the MCCD. In such cases, the registrar will explain any extensions to the five-day rule, so families are not penalised for unavoidable delays. 

For most families, registering promptly helps everything else — including funeral arrangements — to move forward more smoothly. 

How to register a death  

The person responsible for registering the death is usually a close relative. However, several others may also legally do so if necessary. You can register a death if: 

• You are a relative of the deceased 

• You were present at the time of death 

• You are the person arranging the funeral with the funeral director 

• If no relatives are available, the duty may pass to: 

• A person present at the death (for example, a doctor, nurse, paramedic, or care worker) 

• The occupier of the house or institution where the death occurred 

• The person responsible for arranging the burial or cremation 

The BBC has previously highlighted that delays in registering deaths can cause significant hold-ups to funeral arrangements, so it’s helpful to know who can step in when needed. 

What you’ll need to bring  

You’ll need to provide the registrar with certain details about the person who has died, including: 

• Their full name, date and place of birth 

• Their last address 

• Their occupation (if applicable) 

• Details of any spouse or civil partner 

It’s helpful, though not essential, to bring identification documents such as: 

• Passport 

• Driving licence 

• Birth or marriage certificate 

• Council tax bill or utility bill 

Most importantly, the registrar must receive the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) from the doctor or hospital before the appointment. Since 2023, this certificate is sent directly by the medical examiner, so families don’t usually need to collect it themselves. 

Where to register a death in West Kent and Southeast London 

A death should be registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the area where the person passed away. You can find your nearest office using the official UK government directory of register offices. 

If it’s difficult to travel to the relevant district, you can make a declaration at another office — but this may cause a short delay while the paperwork is transferred. 

For Welham Jones families: 

• Customers in Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Swanley and Borough Green should contact Kent County Council’s Register Office. 

• Customers in our Orpington and Chelsfield, and Chislehurst and Bromley branches should register through Bromley Borough Council. 

If you’re unsure which local authority applies, your funeral director can guide you to the right place. 

Understanding when and how to register a death can help ease the burden at one of life’s most difficult moments — and your local funeral director can support you every step of the way. 

If you’re looking for support planning a funeral, please contact us