Registering a death

The Registration Service will always be sensitive to the needs of grieving families, but the law does require all deaths to be registered. These notes are intended to guide next-of-kin through that process and your local registrar will always be pleased to help with further information.

A death must be registered where it took place. If the death occurred within the Local Authority area of Shropshire it may be registered at the most convenient service point. The link on this page will show you where your nearest point is. An appointment should be made by telephoning 0845 678 9016 (via Customer Service Centre) on Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.45pm.

If the death has been referred to the coroner, it can't be registered until the registrar has received authority from the coroner to do so.

If the death has not been referred to the coroner, go to the registrar as soon as possible. Phone first to find out if you are the only person who needs to attend to give information.

The death must be registered within five days unless the registrar says this period may be exceeded.

The necessary information to register a death may be given to any registrar in England and Wales; but, if you choose to attend an office outside of the local authority area of Shropshire, you will need to attend your chosen registrar's office to make a declaration of the particulars of the deceased.

This declaration will be forwarded to a registrar in the district in which the death took place, where it will be registered.

Is there a charge for registering a death?
The registration process is free of charge, but no certificates are supplied for free. If any copies of the death certificate are required, they can be ordered at the time of registration, or following it, and these fees apply:

• copy certificates at the time of registration - £3.50 each
• copy certificates applied for at least one month after registration - £7.00

Please follow the link entitled copy certificates application to find out more information about ordering certificates via our postal or on-line services.

What happens at the registrars?

Things you need to take:

• the medical certificate of the cause of death
• the deceased's medical card (if possible)
• the deceased's birth and marriage certificates (if available)

You should tell the registrar:

• the date and place of death
• the deceased's last (usual) address
• the deceased's first names and surname (and maiden name where appropriate)
• the deceased's date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK and country if born abroad)
• the deceased's occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse
• whether the deceased was getting a pension or allowance from public funds
• if the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower

The registrar will give you:

• A certificate for burial or cremation (known as the "green form") unless the coroner has already given you an order for burial or a certificate for cremation. This should be given to the funeral director.
• A certificate of the registration of death. This is for social security purposes only. Read the information on the back of the certificate. If any of it applies, fill in the certificate and show it to your social security office.
• Leaflets about widows' benefits and income tax for widows, where appropriate.

If you have visited a register office outside of Shropshire to register a death which occurred within Shropshire, all of these documents will be sent on to you by post.

The death certificate
This is a certified copy of the entry in the death register.

You are not automatically given a certificate free of charge.

The registrar can let you have a death certificate if you want one, but there is a fee.

You could need a death certificate for the will and for any pension claims, insurance policies, savings bank certificates and premium bonds.

You may wish to have several copies straight away as the price increases if you need more later on.

The registrar may ask you to call back for them or for postage so that they can be sent to you.

Stillborn babies
Information for registration of a stillbirth may be given to any registrar in England or Wales. The procedure is similar to that for deaths.

If a baby is stillborn (born dead after the 24th week of pregnancy) you will be given a medical certificate of stillbirth, signed by the midwife or doctor, which you should give to the registrar. If no doctor or midwife was present or examined the body, you will need to sign a "form 35" which the registrar will give you.

The registrar will give you a certificate for burial or cremation and a certificate of registration of stillbirth. You can ask to have a first name entered for a stillborn baby and the registrar will write the baby's name on these certificates if the name is recorded in the register.

It is also possible to get certified copies of a register entry that was made to record the birth of a stillborn child.

Probate
For further details please contact

Stoke on Trent Probate Sub-registry
Combined Court Centre
Bethesda Street
Hanley
Stoke on Trent
ST1 3BP

Telephone: +44 (0) 1782 854065

Or visit their website using the attached link.