Registration of deaths

Where possible, a death should be registered within five days in the district in which the death occurred. This is so that the necessary forms and certificates can be issued to allow you to arrange the funeral, and deal with the deceased’s estate.

• Who can register the death
• If the death took place within the Borough
• If the death took place outside the Borough
• If a Coroner is involved
• Registering a neonatal death
• Registering a stillbirth
• Same day faith burials
• Corrections
• Tell Us Once service

Who can register the death

The following individuals can register the death:

• Husband, wife or civil partner
• Cohabiting long-term partner
• A family member
• A person who was present at the death
• The occupier of the premises where the death occurred. The informant must either be the senior resident officer or matron of the establishment where the death occurred
• The person arranging the funeral. A person arranging the funeral should only register a death if there are no relatives available

If the death took place within the Borough

The death must be registered at Richmond Register Office. We will be able to issue certificates upon completion of the registration. The record will remain in our office so we will also be able to provide further copy certificates in the future.

How to register a death

When registering a death you should be aware of the following:

• Customers must attend our office in person and only by appointment
• We recommend no more than two people attend the appointment
• Medical documentation needed for a registration will be issued by a doctor, or the coroner. These documents are reviewed by the medical examiner. Only once their review is complete are the medical documents sent to the Register Office. We must have these documents before we will book you in for a death registration
• As part of your registration appointment, the green certificate for burial or cremation will be transmitted electronically to the funeral director, crematorium or cemetery office

If you are coming forward to register a death, please contact us on 020 8891 7188 and a member of our team can take your contact details. The Registration team will call you back to book an appointment. We will only be able to book an appointment when the necessary paperwork has been received from the medical examiner.

Please do not attend the office without an appointment.

View information for the bereaved.

If the death took place outside the Borough

The death must be registered with the register office for that borough.

Alternatively you can 'make a declaration' at the Richmond Register Office. The registrar at Richmond taking your declaration will send it to the relevant register office, along with your payment for any certificates. The receiving office will then complete the registration. We are unable to issue any paperwork. Please be advised that it may take up to 10 days for you to receive paperwork from the registering office. This may delay the funeral arrangements.

If a coroner is involved

If the death has been reported to the coroner, the coroner will work with the Medical Examiner to ensure that medical documentation is issued to the Register Office as soon as possible.

Read about the role of the coroner.

Registering a neonatal death

For babies who die after birth, even if they live for a very short time, both birth and death must be registered. Your doctor or midwife will issue a medical certificate of death, and the death should be registered within five days. You may also be able to register your baby’s birth during the same appointment.

Birth and death certificates can be issued after the registration, together with paperwork to allow a funeral to take place.

Contact Registration Services for further advice and information.

Registering a stillbirth

There is a legal requirement to register a stillbirth, and your doctor or midwife will issue a medical certificate which must be taken to the registrar. A certificate can be issued after the registration, together with paperwork to allow a funeral to take place. If you have given your baby a name, this can also be recorded in the register entry and on the certificate.

Contact Registration Services for further advice and information.

Same day faith burials

If your relative has died on a weekend or public holiday, and you intend to bury them on the same day for faith reasons, contact us on 020 8891 1411. Please let the Customer Services team know that it is a faith burial. They will ask the registrar to contact you urgently.

Please note, the out of hours service is not guaranteed.

Corrections

It may cost up to £90 to correct a mistake in a death registration.

It is your responsibility to provide accurate information at the registration and check the record carefully. Your signature is your confirmation that the entry is correct.

Tell Us Once service

Tell Us Once is voluntary to use and very helpful. It enables you to report a death only once, telling central and local government services securely and confidentially without you having to inform them individually.

After you have registered the death the Registrar will provide you with a unique Tell Us Once reference number so you can access the service online.

The DWP's video has more information about the Tell Us Once service.

A sign language version of the video is also available.