During this difficult time of bereavement, following the loss of a loved one, there are some practical steps that you will need to take.
We can guide you through the registration process if you wish, including arranging the appointment at the appropriate Registrar’s Office.
If you feel you would like support, we can also accompany you to the Registrar’s Office for the appointment.
After someone dies, a medical examiner will check the cause of death to make sure it’s accurate.
They will be a senior doctor, and they will not have been involved in the care of the person who has died.
The medical examiner’s office will then contact you to:
- explain the cause of death
- answer any questions you have about this, or the healthcare provided to the person before they died
This is voluntary and you do not have to speak to them.
Registering the death
You’ll also be contacted by the medical examiner’s office to confirm you can register the death.
Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland) of being contacted. This includes weekends and bank holidays.
After you’ve registered the death
The registrar normally emails the certificate for burial or cremation (often called ‘the green form’) directly to the funeral director, in some instances they may hand them over to the informant who must then hand the form to the chosen funeral director, crematorium or burial authority. You must do this before the funeral can take place
There are several registration offices across Devon and Cornwall which are located in the following locations:
Sometimes it may not be possible to register your loved ones death straight away, especially if the coroner is involved, but we can help and advise you on this, if necessary.
Who should register the death
The person registering the death is known as ‘the Informant’.
A relative should register the death.
If a relative cannot register the death, you can do it if you:
- were there at the time of death
- are an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in hospital)
- are in charge of making funeral arrangements
What you need to do
The register office will tell you what you need to do when you contact them.
The register office may also want to see the person’s:
- birth certificate
- Council Tax bill
- driving licence
- marriage or civil partnership certificate
- NHS medical card
- passport
- proof of address (such as a utility bill)
Ask the register office what to do if you do not have them.
You’ll need to tell the registrar:
- the person’s full name at the time of death
- any names previously used, eg maiden name
- the person’s date and place of birth
- their last address
- their occupation
- the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
- whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits
Documents you’ll get
When you register a death, you’ll get a certificate for burial or cremation (the ‘green form’). This gives you permission for a burial or to apply for a cremation.
You’ll also be able to buy death certificates – these prove the death has been registered. These certificates will be needed for sorting out the person’s affairs. You can:
- buy death certificates at the register office when you register the death
- order death certificates online
What is registration by declaration?
Your loved one’s death must be registered in the district where their death occurred, if you cannot get to a Registrar’s Office within that district, this can take place at a Registrar’s Office of your choice by what is called ‘registration by declaration’.
If you wish to carry out registration by declaration, we can contact both registrars on your behalf and assist you to complete this formality.
In normal circumstances, the process will involve the issuing and receipt of the required certificates and is unlikely to take place in under seven days, which can cause a possible delay to the funeral.
Tell us once service
The Government provides a special Tell us once service that will inform most council departments about your loved one’s death in one go. We recommend using this service to avoid having to make repeated phone calls about your loved ones death.
- Click here to visit the tell us once service for Cornwall
- Click here to visit the tell us once service for Devon