After a loved one has passed away, you will find that a death certificate is one of the most essential pieces of paperwork that you will need to organise the funeral, cremation, deal with financial accounts and manage the deceased’s estate.
In this guide, we will cover everything from what a death certificate is, how to obtain a death certificate to how much one costs.
What is a death certificate?
When a person dies, you must register the death within 5 days (in England and Wales). Once a death has been registered with the local registry office, you can then obtain a death certificate. This document includes important information about what has been included on the death register such as:
- Where and when the death was registered
- When and where the death occurred
- Cause of death
- Name, age, gender, address and occupation
- Name of registrar
After you have registered a death, you will be given the following along with the death certificate:
- Green certificate for burial or cremation
- Copies of the death certificate for a fee (if requested)
What happens if you don’t register a death within 5 days?
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is required to officially record a death within 5 days, while in Scotland, the time frame is extended to 8 days. If the death has been reported to the Coroner or Procurator Fiscal, the registration process cannot take place until the investigations are completed. Although ideally, a death should be registered within five days, there is a provision for a nine-day delay if the registrar is informed that a medical certificate has been issued.
It is not permissible to appoint someone else to register the death on your behalf. Failing to register a death within the specified time frames is considered a criminal offence.
Who can get a death certificate in the UK?
If you have the medical certificate which includes the cause of death for the person who passed away, you will be able to register the death and request the death certificate at the register office. This documentation is usually held by a close relative, someone that was present at the time of death or someone that is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
When registering the death, you should also take along some identification for yourself to show who you are in relation to the person that has passed. The death registrar will request some information about your loved one such as their full name, place and date of birth, birth certificate, last address and last occupation.
It's worth noting that after the death has been registered, anyone can order a replacement death certificate.
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How long does it take to get one?
If you are the person registering the death at your local register office, you will be able to get the death certificate immediately.
How much is a death certificate?
Registering a death is free of charge but you will need to pay £11 for the death certificate. This cost will also apply to each copy you will need of the certificate.
How and where to get copies of the death certificate if the death has been registered
You can get official copies of the death certificate online, by phone or by post from the General Register Office using a GRO index reference number.
Copies of the certificate will usually be sent to you 4 working days after you apply. There is an option to pay for a priority service which costs £35 to receive copies the next working day if you need them urgently.
If you do not have the GRO index reference number for the person, you will have to pay an extra £3 per search on top of the £11 and the certificates will be sent within 15 working days.
How many copies of the death certificate do I need?
If you are the person in charge of handling the deceased person's estate, it is recommended that you get between 3 and 7 official copies but this is dependent on the complexity of the estate. This is so you can contact multiple companies and organisations at the same time and speed up the probate process as most financial organisations such as banks, insurers and pension providers only accept official copies and not photocopies of the death certificate.
Next steps
Once you've registered a death and have all the documentation you will need to organise the funeral or cremation. With the average basic funeral in the UK costing around £3,953, it is always worth checking whether your loved one had a funeral plan in place or money set aside.
If you have been appointed as an executor to distribute the deceased person's estate and are looking for professional assistance, our probate specialists are here to help and can offer you a free, no obligation quote today.
