Register the death
Book an appointment with the register office.
By law this must be done within 5 days in England and Wales, unless the coroner is involved.
- How long it takes
- About 45 minutes, once you have an appointment
- Typical cost
- Free to register. Certificates cost £12.50 each.
- What you need before you start
- The medical certificate to have reached the register office
- Their full name, address, date and place of birth, and occupation
- Their NHS number, if you have it
Book with the register office for the district where the person died — not where they lived. Most councils take bookings online.
You will be given a green form for the funeral director, and a BD8 form for benefits, and you can buy death certificates at the same time.
Write down the entry number from the register — you will need it if you order more certificates later.
If the coroner is involved, wait until they tell you to book.
Reference numbers from this step
Saved on this device, and gathered together in your reference numbers.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 19 August 2026 by Simon D Campbell. Applies to England and Wales.