Registering a death

Our team can help guide you through the process of registering a death.

All deaths, whether in the community or at a hospital, are now required to go through the Medical Examiner’s statutory scrutinisation process

The doctor attending the deceased prior to death, will refer the paperwork to either the medical examiner or to the coroner's office, who will upon completion of necessary checks, send the authority to register the death to the appropriate Registration service. 

If the death occurred in Torfaen one of our registrars will contact you directly, to arrange a death registration appointment.

The death must be registered in the district in which the death occurred. Details of the death may be given at another register office in England and Wales by making a declaration, but this will mean a delay in receiving the necessary paperwork to allow the funeral to take place.

If you have any queries or you would like to discuss the process in more detail, please contact the office on 01495 742 132.

When should I register a death?

The law requires that a death be registered within 5 days of the Medical Examiner’s Office sending the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) to the Registrar. This includes weekends and Bank Holidays.

Who can register a death?

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

• A relative of the deceased
• A person present at the death
• The occupier of the premises where the person died if he/she knew about it
• The person responsible for arranging the funeral (this does not include the funeral director)
• The partner of the deceased
• The personal representative of the deceased

How much does it cost to register a death?

There is no charge to register a death.

How much does it cost for a copy of the death certificate?

Death certificates are £12.50 each at the time of registration.

What information will the Registrar need to know regarding the deceased?

The Registrar will talk to you privately at the register office and will ask you for the following information:

• 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)
• Their date and place of Birth
• The occupation of the deceased and, if the deceased person was married or in a civil partnership, the full name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner
• The date of birth of a surviving spouse or civil partner
• The National Health Service Number (NHS) of deceased. This can be obtained from a Medical Card
• Details of any public sector pension e.g. civil service, teacher or armed forces

If I register the death in the district where the death occurred, what documentation will I receive following the registration?

• Any death certificate(s) requested - £12.50 each
• The green certificate for burial or cremation

What happens if I am unable to register the death in the district where the death occurred?

If you are unable to register the death in the district where the event occurred, the information for the registration may be given to any registrar in England or Wales. You will need to attend your chosen registrar’s office to make a declaration of the particulars for the registration. This declaration will then be forwarded to the registrar in the district where the death took place.

If I register a death by declaration, what documents will I receive and when will I receive the documents through the post?

The following documents will be sent out to you after the death has been officially registered in the district where the event occurred.

• A form for the Undertaker (the 9W green form) which gives the authorisation to make the funeral arrangements;
• Any death certificate(s) requested - £12.50 each;

Please note: There will be a delay of up to 7 days from the date of declaration before you receive the above documents via the post

If you require further assistance on the declaration process, please contact The Register Office on 01495 742132.

What if I make a mistake when completing a Death Registration?

When completing a registration, you must check details from the register page carefully. Once the entry is signed you are stating that everything is accurate and that it is a true statement.

If you fail to notice an error when checking and signing the registration (birth death, marriage, civil partnership) the fee to apply for a correction will be £83 or £99 depending on the type of correction required. New certificate fees will also apply.

Please note: This fee does not guarantee the correction can be made.

Religious Faith Funeral

In certain religious and cultural beliefs, it is customary for a funeral to take place soon after the death (usually within 24 hours). If you have lost a loved one and need to arrange an urgent death registration appointment, please contact us on 01495 742132. If you need to speak to us outside of standard office hours, please call the out of hours contact Centre on 01495 762200 for assistance.

Please note: In certain circumstances the death may need to be reported to the coroner. This may mean that we are unable to issue the necessary paperwork required to allow the funeral to take place within the required timeframe.

Last Modified: 09/05/2025 Back to top