Is It Still Possible To Register A Death During Lockdown?

I have recently been asked how to register a death during Covid-19 lockdown so I thought I’d share my response as part of my blog this month….

Usually, a death must be registered within five days by a Registrar of births, deaths and marriages. This can be extended by a further nine days if the Registrar is advised that a medical certificate has been issued.

However, if a death has been reported to a Coroner, then a death cannot be registered until the Coroner’s investigations have been concluded.

Where Do I Register a Death?

When someone dies at home, the death should be registered at the Registry office for the district where the deceased lived. If the deceased passed away in a hospital or nursing home then the death must be registered in the district in which the hospital or home is situated. Some hospitals allow the death to be registered there for example Derby Royal Hospital.

Who Can Register a Death?

Only certain people can give instructions for a death to be registered, and the order of priority is as follows:
• A relative who was present at the death
• A relative who was present during the deceased’s last illness
• A relative living in the district where the death took place
• Anyone else who was present at the death
• An owner or occupier of the building where the death took place, and who was aware of the death
• The person who is arranging the funeral (but this excludes the funeral director)

It is a criminal offence not to register a death and the responsibility for registering the death cannot be delegated to anyone else.

What Do I Need to Register a Death?

When the death is registered, you must have the following to hand:
• The medical certificate of death
• The date and place of death
• The deceased’s full name (including any previous names), address and date and place of birth
• The deceased’s occupation
• The full name, date of birth and occupation of the deceased’s spouse (whether they are sill living or not)

How Do I Register a Death During Lockdown?

The Coronovirus Act 2020 has introduced new measures which allows the death to be registered over the telephone so that social distancing measures can be adhered to and for the exchange of paperwork to be dealt with electronically.

However, the death must still be registered within the five-day time limit.

What Happens Once a Death Has Been Registered?

Once the death has been registered, the Registrar will send out the death certificate together with a green certificate which allows the burial or cremation to go ahead. The latter will need to be given to the funeral company.

The Registrar will also send you a form called “Tell Us Once” which can be used to notify Government Agencies such as the DWP, DVLA and HMRC.

If the deceased left a Will, then the executors can begin to administer the estate. If the deceased died without leaving a Will, then an application to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Letters of Administration will usually need to be made. For further information visit our What To Do When Someone Dies leaflet.

Jo Robinson
20th April 2020