Frequently asked questions

When to register a death?

A death must be registered within 5 days of the Medical Examiner issuing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This includes weekends and bank holidays.

Once the Medical Examiner has spoken to the family, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be electronically scanned directly to us.

If the paperwork is to be issued by the Coroner’s Office, they will also scan this through directly to us.

Once we have received the paperwork, you will be able to book an appointment online.

Where do I register a death?

If the death occurred in Hampshire, you can register at any one of our 15 offices. Find your nearest register office by visiting hants.gov.uk/birthsdeathsandceremonies/registrationservices/registeroffices.

For deaths outside Hampshire (e.g Southampton, Portsmouth, Surrey) you will need to register the death with the relevant local authority.

What documents should I bring

There is no legal requirement to bring any documents to the appointment, but you should bring a form of identity for yourself.

It can also be helpful to bring documents, such as the deceased’s passport, birth certificate, marriage/civil partnership certificate, name change deeds and their NHS number.

These can help to verify details such as place of birth or spelling of names.

What information is needed during registration?You will need to provide:

Deceased’s full name (including maiden/previous names if applicable), date/place of birth, date/place of death, occupation, their usual address, and marital status
Details of spouse or civil partner (their name and occupation)
Whether the deceased received pensions or public benefits (including reference number)

What do I receive at registration?

When you register a death, you will get a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the ‘green form’) - this gives permission for burial or an application for cremation.

You will not automatically be provided with a death certificate. Your options are:

pre-order when booking your appointment
order certificates during the appointment
after the registration appointment you can order a death certificate online
You will also receive a unique reference number for the Tell Us Once service. This can be used to notify local and central government departments that the death has occurred

What help can I get with funeral arrangements?

Visit the Gov.uk site for help with arranging a funeral. You will also find information about:

finding bereavement services from your local council
getting help paying for a funeral
getting help paying for a child's funeral
finding bereavement help and support

How do I notify services after someone dies?

Following the death of a loved one, there can be a lot to do. Free services that can help you to notify relevant organisations.

Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a free service that lets you report a death to multiple government organisations in one go. Tell Us Once will also contact some public sector pension schemes so that they cancel future pension payments.

Access Tell Us Once online.

Death Notification Service

The Death Notification Service helps you to notify multiple financial organisations of a person's death at the same time for free.

More information can be found here.

Do you offer ‘Tell Us Once’ service?

Yes. At the end of the appointment the registrar will give you a unique reference number so you can access the Tell Us Once service online or by telephone.

Tell Us Once is a free service that lets you report a death to multiple government and council services in one go. You must use the service within 28 days of receiving your unique reference number.

Access Tell Us Once online.

Are there any fees for registering a death?

No, it is free to register a death. There is a fee of £12.50 for each death certificate you require.

You will not automatically be provided with a death certificate. Your options are:

pre-order when booking your appointment
order certificates during the appointment
after the registration appointment you can order a death certificate online

What if the coroner is involved?

The Coroner’s Office will notify you when you can book an appointment to register the death. Once we have received the paperwork, you will be able to book an appointment online.

I’ve registered the death. What else needs to legally happen?

After registering the death, you need to:

Check if you can get bereavement benefits
Deal with your own benefits, pension and taxes
Check if you need to apply to stay in the UK
Apply for probate and check if you need to pay for Inheritance Tax
Deal with the estate

For further information visit gov.uk/when-someone-dies

How do I order a death certificate?

You can order during your appointment or later online. Options include:

Standard certificate £12.50
Priority service (issued within 24 hours) is £38.50

To order Death Certificates visit hants.gov.uk/birthsdeathsandceremonies/registrationservices/deaths/death-certificate.

Can I order a copy of a death certificate from abroad?

Hampshire Registration Service cannot issue death certificates to overseas applicants.

Overseas applicants can order death certificates from the General Register Office