The 5-day deadline, what to bring, what you receive, and what changed in 2024 — a clear step-by-step guide.
This guide is part of ProbateHelp's First Steps guide cluster. Estimated reading time: 15 min.
In England and Wales, you must wait for the medical examiner's office to confirm that the death can be registered, then register it within 5 days of that confirmation. In Scotland, the deadline is 8 days from the date of death. If the death has been referred to the coroner or Procurator Fiscal, you may need to wait for permission before registration can happen.
The registrar prefers a relative of the deceased to register the death. If no relative is available, the registration can be done by someone present at the death, the occupier of the premises where the death occurred, or the person arranging the funeral.
In England and Wales, you normally wait for the medical examiner's office to confirm that the register office has what it needs before you book. It helps to bring the deceased's NHS number or medical card, birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, and proof of address if you have them, but the registrar can usually work with the information you can provide.
Tell Us Once is a free government service for England, Wales and Scotland that can notify departments such as DWP, HMRC, DVLA, the Passport Office and the local council. The registrar gives you a reference number after registration, and GOV.UK says it must be used within 28 days. It does not notify banks, insurers, utilities, employers or private pension providers.