What to do when someone dies

Who can register a Death?

If the death occurred inside a house or public building such as a hospital, the following people may register the death:

• A relative


• Someone who was present at the death


• The occupier of the house or an official from the public building where the death occurs, e.g. the hospital


• The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

If the death took place elsewhere, the following list of people may register the death.

• A relative


• Someone who was present at the death


• The person who found the body


• The person who is in charge of the body


• The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

Funeral directors are not permitted to register a death.

Have your information ready!

When you go to the Registrar's office, you'll need to take the following documents:

• The medical certificate of cause of death (normally given by the deceased person's doctor, or by the hospital in which the death occurred);


• The deceased's National Health Service medical card, if available;


• The deceased's birth certificate, if available.


• The deceased's marriage or civil partnership registration certificate if applicable.

You will need to tell the registrar:

• The full name, occupation, and postal address of the deceased person, and his or her date of birth;


• If the deceased was a married man, in a registered civil partnership, widowed, a surviving civil partner, divorced, or his previous civil partnership was dissolved or annulled, the full name of his wife or former wife, civil partner or former civil partner;


• If the deceased was a married woman, in a registered civil partnership, widowed, a surviving civil partner, divorced, or her previous civil partnership was dissolved or annulled, the full name of her husband or former husband, civil partner or former civil partner;


• If the deceased had been married or in a registered civil partnership more than once, particulars of previous spouses or civil partners;


• If the deceased was married or in a registered civil partnership at the date of death, the date of birth of the surviving widow, widower or civil parner;


• The full name and occupation of the deceased person's father and the full name, maiden surname and occupation of the deceased's mother;


• The name and address of the deceased's own doctor.

What you will receive

Once you have provided all the required information, the registrar should give you:

• Form 14 – This is a certificate of registration of death and should be given to your funeral director as soon as possible.


• Form BD8 – This form is provided with contact details for the Pension Service in order to cancel the state pension and any other benefits of which the deceased may have been in receipt. It is not necessary to use this form if you use the “Tell us once” service provided by North Ayrshire Council. They will contact many other agencies on your behalf, including the Department for Work and Pensions.


• Abbreviated Extract – This is commonly known as an abbreviated death certificate. It is an abbreviated extract of the entry in the register of deaths and one copy only is issued free of charge.


• Extract – This is commonly known as a full death certificate. It is a full extract of the entry in the register of deaths. This type of extract is issued on request and is chargeable. Full extracts currently cost £10.00 if purchased at the time of registration.

Do I need extra certificates?

This is an issue a lot of people overlook - the need for extra death certificates. Copies are requested by most banks or building societies, insurance and pension companies.

It is always better to purchase additional certificates, because without a sufficient number of death certificates, sorting out the estate will take considerably longer, also, obtaining extra death certificates at a later stage will be more expensive.