Register a death
Why register a Death?
By law all deaths occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered.
When must a Death be registered?
A death should be registered as soon as possible to allow funeral arrangements and should be done within five days from the date of occurrence except where the matter has been referred to the Coroner.
What do you need in order to register a Death?
A medical certificate of cause of death issued by a doctor who has treated the deceased within twenty-eight days before the date of death. If the deceased had not been seen by a doctor within that period or where the death was not caused by natural illness the case would have to be referred to the Coroner - The Registrar or Funeral Director will advise you.
What does it cost to register a death?
There is no cost for registering a death. The only cost may be for copies of the death certificate if required, which are £8.00
Where can a Death be registered?
With the Registrar in the district in which the person died, or in the district in which the person normally lived, if within Northern Ireland.
Who can register a Death?
A death which occurs in Northern Ireland can be registered by:
- Any relative of the deceased who has knowledge of the details required to be registered (this includes a relative by marriage).
- A person present at the death.
- A person taking care of the funeral arrangements.
- The executor or administrator of the deceased's estate.
- The governor, matron, or chief officer of a public building where the death occurred.
- A person living in and responsible for a house, lodgings or apartments where the death occurred.
- A person finding the body, or a person taking charge of the body.
What information will you need to give the Registrar?
- Full name and surname of the deceased.
- Date and place of death and usual address.
- Marital status (single, married, widowed or divorced).
- Date and place of birth.
- Occupation of the deceased (if the deceased was a wife or widow, the full names and occupation of her husband (or deceased husband) will be required.
- If the deceased was a child, the full names and occupation of the father will be required or where the parents are not married the full names and occupations of the mother will be required).
- Maiden surname (if the deceased was a woman who had married).
- The name and address of the deceased's GP
What will the Registrar give you?
Once the registration is completed, the Registrar will issue the following forms:-
- GRO 21 which permits the burial or for an application for cremation to be made,
- A certificate of Registration of Deaths (Form 36/BD8) for production to the Social Security Offices regarding benefits.
- Certified Copies of Death Certificate. These may be needed to claim insurance, deal with business matters etc., and these may be purchased from the Registrar at the time of registration for £8.00 per copy.
PLEASE NOTE THAT A DEATH REGISTRATION CANNOT EASILY BE CHANGED ONCE COMPLETED
Certified copies of Death certificate?
Certified copies may be needed to claim insurance, deal with business matters etc. and these may be purchased from the Registrar at the time of registration for £8.00 per copy.
Cost of Death certificate after registration
Full certified copy £ 14.00 , or where two or more copies of the same entry are applied for at the same time the first copy will be charged at £ 14.00 and any additional copies at £ 8.00 each.
How do I obtain a certificate from a previously registered death?
Certified copies of all deaths registered in Northern Ireland may be obtained from:- General Register Office Oxford House 49/55 Chichester Street Belfast BT1 4HL Telephone:- 028 90 252000 Website: www.groni.co.uk
Certified copies of deaths registered on or after 1 January 1997 can be obtained from any District Registrars Office in Northern Ireland, no matter where in Northern Ireland the death occurred.
Death referred to Coroner
If a death has been referred to the Coroner, funeral arrangements should not be made before the consent of the Coroner has been obtained.
The death can be registered and a Death Certificate issued only after the Registrar has received the necessary certificate from the Coroner.
When the Registrar's office receives the appropriate form they will contact a relative of the deceased and ask them to call and register the death.
