Registrar of Births and Deaths
The Registrar can register the death only if he/she is given or has obtained the medical certificate or has received notification from the Coroner. He or she will require to know the following details about the deceased:
- FULL NAME – including any other names they were known by
- MAIDEN SURNAME – if the deceased was a married woman
- DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
- OCCUPATION – and their husband’s full name and occupation, if the deceased was a married woman or a widow
You will need to confirm the date and place of death. Other questions will be asked about the date of birth of the surviving spouse and information about the State pensions and allowances the person was receiving, including war pensions.
The NHS insurance number will be requested and the medical card of the deceased should be surrendered to the Registrar, if it is available. If the number is not known and the medical card unavailable, you can still register the death.
The Registrar will issue a free social security form to ensure that benefits are being paid correctly. If the Coroner is not issuing an Order for Burial or Cremation, the Registrar will issue a free certificate for this purpose. This should be given to your funeral director or sent to the cemetery or crematorium as soon as possible. For burial, the form is coloured green.
The Registrar will advise you over any further certificate copies you require and the cost involved. These will be for obtaining Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, to show banks, social security or building societies and to claim insurance.