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Death Registration

Death must be registered within 8 days. A reminder will be sent if a death is not registered within this period.

If a death occured in Scotland, customers have the freedom to register the death at any registration office in Scotland.

Further advice can be obtained from any of our local Registration Offices.

Who can register a death?

  • Any relative of the deceased
  • Any person present at the death
  • The deceased's executor or other legal representative
  • The occupier, at the time of death, of the premises where the death took place
  • Any other person having knowledge of the particulars to be lodged

What documents should I take to the Registrar?

  • the medical certificate of cause of death (Form 11), normally from the doctor or hospital. The Registrar retains this document;
  • the deceased's birth certificate, if available
  • the marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate, along with divorce, dissolution or death certificates of any previous spouses or civil partners, if relevant and if available; and
  • the deceased's NHS medical card, if available

Documents issued by the Registrar

  • A certificate of registration of death for burial/cremation purposes (Form 14), issued free of charge
  • A Social Security Certificate of Registration (green form), issued free of charge
  • A abbreviated death certificate, issued free of charge, this has limited value, but a full death certificate/s can be purchased if required. The fee is £8.50 within a year of registration rising to £13.50 thereafter

Organisations you may need to inform