Registering a Death

The law places the duty primarily on close relatives by blood or marriage. That typically means a spouse, civil partner, parent, adult child, or sibling. If no relative is available, another person present at death—or the person arranging the funeral—may register. In practice, the Registrar will accept whichever qualified informant attends first, provided they have the necessary details. If multiple relatives wish to be involved, they can attend together, but only one person signs as the informant. It’s important to decide amicably who will sign, as corrections later are costly and may delay probate.

The five-day limit can be extended for “reasonable cause,” most commonly when the Coroner is investigating or when a Medical Examiner review is delayed. Contact the Register Office immediately to explain your circumstances. They can note that the legal time frame is paused due to official investigations, preventing any penalties. Meanwhile, Regency keeps your loved one in our professional care, and we can begin preliminary funeral arrangements. We’ll schedule the service only once the registration is complete, ensuring no avoidable delays.

Introduced to improve scrutiny and transparency, the Medical Examiner system places an independent senior doctor—separate from the hospital team—in charge of confirming causes of death. This change reduces errors on certificates and gives families a chance to ask medical questions. For most expected deaths, the Medical Examiner issues the MCCD electronically within 24-48 hours. You’ll receive a phone call or email once the document is lodged with the Registrar, so you can book your appointment with confidence that paperwork is ready.

Some districts in England & Wales allow telephone registrations, especially when travel is difficult. You must still supply the Registrar with scanned copies of supporting ID, and the death certificates will either be posted or collected later. Full online self-service registration is not yet available nationwide, but it is being trialled in certain regions. Always check your local Register Office website for current rules or call Regency and we’ll find out on your behalf.

Each financial or legal body you deal with may require an original certificate. Banks will return them, but solicitors, share registrars, and insurance companies can keep them for weeks. We generally recommend ordering at least four certificates to avoid delays, and some estates need eight or more. Extra copies cost £11 each at registration; ordering later can cost more and involves postal delays. If in doubt, buy a couple more—unused certificates can still be handy for family records.

With the Medical Examiner model, the GP or hospital doctor no longer signs the MCCD. Instead, any treating clinician provides notes to the Medical Examiner, who then issues the certificate. If the usual GP is on holiday, the surgery will nominate another doctor to provide clinical details. This means delays are rare. If a delay does occur, Regency liaises with the surgery and Medical Examiner’s office to keep the process moving smoothly.

Registration itself is free. The only standard cost is for certified copies of the entry (£11 each). Some Register Offices charge small fees for additional services like priority certificates or postage. If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for certain government allowances or the Funeral Expenses Payment, which can cover certificate costs. Our team can direct you to the relevant forms and advice.

Deaths abroad must be registered in the country of death according to local law, then also with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK. Our repatriation specialists arrange transport home and liaise with British consular officials. Once the deceased is returned to St Neots, you’ll still need to register the death in England & Wales using a “Certificate of No Liability to Register.” Regency handles the paperwork and will guide you through each step.

Tell Us Once transmits the death details securely to government departments such as HMRC, DWP, and the DVLA, preventing overpayments of pensions or benefits and stopping unwanted mail. You’ll receive a unique reference ID from the Registrar. Log in online or phone the service within 28 days, answer a short series of questions, and your notifications are complete. Our downloadable guide includes a checklist to make the process even simpler.

Registration is only the first official hurdle. Regency provides a full continuum of care: helping arrange the funeral, creating personalised tributes, assisting with probate referrals, and offering bereavement support links, such as our weekly café in Kimbolton. If paperwork feels daunting, we can draft letters to banks, insurance companies, or landlords, and we’ll remind you about probate timelines and memorial options. Our support is lifelong—many families return to us for advice months or even years later, knowing we’ll always welcome them with compassion and understanding.