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What you need to do when someone dies.
We understand that this is a difficult time and we are here to support you and ensure where possible, that your needs and wishes are met.
It is a legal requirement for deaths to be registered within five days, unless an investigation into the death takes place, which may take longer.
The death must be registered in person with the register office in the borough where the death took place. If the person has died outside of Waltham Forest, you can find out how to register using the GOV.uk website.
A relative should register the death.
If a relative cannot register the death, someone else can do it if they:
Please note that to protect everybody’s wellbeing, only two people may attend the registration appointment.
If your loved one passed away at Whipps Cross Hospital, the hospital will forward an electronic copy of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to us. If your loved one passed away at home or in a care home, your GP will be responsible for forwarding this paperwork to us.
The hospital or the GP should confirm to you that the paperwork has been sent to the Registrars team and at this point you should book an appointment to come in and see us. You can either book online with My Account or by calling 020 8496 3000, where one of our advisors will book the appointment for you.
Once the registration is completed, the registrar will generate a green certificate which can be handed to the family’s chosen funeral director for burial or cremation. If you have already purchased death certificates, these will be administered when the registration is complete
For questions or issues, you can call 0208 496 3000 and a member of the team will assist you.
During the appointment, the registrar will need a copy of the MCCD. If you have collected this from a GP then this will need to be handed to the registrar. You will also need:
If English is not your first language and help is needed, you should use an interpreter at the appointment. Errors that are identified after the registration is complete cannot be easily corrected.
Registering a death is free. Death certificates are £11 each and you would be advised to purchase a minimum of three certificates to be used for official purposes.
Certificates can be purchased at the time of booking your appointment, at the appointment itself or using our copy certificate service.
When you make your purchase, you will be asked for a payment by debit or credit card. We do not accept cash.
Tell Us Once is a free service offered by HM Government
When someone has died, there are lots of things that need to be done, at a time when you probably least feel like doing them.
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.
A short information video explaining the Tell Us Once service can be viewed via YouTube.
Many services can be notified and these include:
After you have registered the death with the Registrar, the Registrar may complete the Tell Us Once service with you at the same time.
Otherwise, the Registrar will provide you with a unique Tell Us Once reference number, which will enable you to access the service Online via GOV.UK
If you have been issued with a Coroners Fact of Death (Interim Death Certificate) you may still be able to use the service and the Registrar will advise you how to do so.
It will help you to have all the relevant information listed below about the person before using Tell Us Once:
You will also need:
Please note
For all our services, please visit our Register Office webpage.
If you need a copy of a death certificate, read our copy certificate information for costs and how to apply.
To make a general enquiry to the Register Office, this can be done through your My Account.