Register a death

Who can register a death?

People who have a legal responsibility to register a death include:

• A relative.
• A person present at the death.
• The occupier of the premises where the death occurred if he/she knew about of it.
• The person arranging the funeral (this does not include the funeral director).

A death should normally be registered within five days (unless a coroner is investigating the circumstances leading to a death). The death must be registered at the Register Office for the district where the death occurred.

Make an appointment

For deaths in Liverpool, you must register the death at:

Liverpool Register Office 
St George's Hall (Heritage Entrance) 
St George's Place
Liverpool
L1 1JJ

To make an appointment please contact us.

Please note: Only relatives of the deceased can attend the appointment. This includes relatives of the deceased by marriage/civil partnership or adoption e.g. spouse/civil partner, children, in-laws, siblings.

What will the registrar ask me?

A Registrar will talk to you privately at the Register Office and will ask you for:

• The date and place of death.
• The full name and surname of the deceased person (and the maiden surname if the deceased was a married woman/civil partner).
• The date and place of birth.
• The occupation of the deceased and, if the deceased person was a married woman, the full name and occupation of her husband.
• Their usual address.
• Their last occupation.
• If the deceased was married, widowed or registered a formal civil partnership, the full name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner.
• The date of birth of a surviving spouse or civil partner.
• Details of any public sector pension e. civil service, teacher or armed forces.

Once the registration has been completed, the Registrar will ask you to check that all the details are correct before signing the Register. You should check the information carefully before signing.

The  Registrar will then give you a "green form" which will allow you to arrange the funeral. There is no charge for this form.  In addition, you will be given a  form for Social Security purposes (BD8). There is no charge for this form.

Where the Coroner is involved a different procedure may apply.

What do I need to register a death?

When you attend your appointment to register a death, please ensure you taking the following information with you:

• The medical certificate issued by the doctor treating the final illness of the person who died. Without this certificate the Registrar will not be able to register the death. If the Coroner has been involved the Coroner's Office will advise you what to do.
• The deceased person's birth certificate or passport. This is not essential but can be helpful.
• The deceased person's medical card. Again this is not essential but is helpful if it can be produced.

Death certificates

At the time of registration a certified copy of the entry in the Register (death certificate) may be provided at a cost of £3.50 each. If copies of the death certificate are required after the registration the Registrar will advise on fees.  

What if I lose a death certificate?

Duplicate or copy certificates can always be obtained at a later date if required. Find out how to get copies of certificates.