Register a death

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.

Who can register a death

A relative should register the death.

If a relative cannot register the death, someone else can do it if they:

• Were there at the time of death, or
• Are an occupier of the premises where the death occurred, or
• Are an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in hospital), or
• Are in charge of making funeral arrangements

Please note that to protect everybody’s wellbeing, only two people may attend the registration appointment.

Death registration process

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.

Documents required for the registration appointment

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:

• Birth certificate or passport
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• NHS medical card
• Full name at the time of death
• Any names previously used, e.g. maiden name
• Date and place of birth
• Last address
• Occupation and if retired or not
• Full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
• Information if they received a State Pension or any other benefits

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.

Certificate costs

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.

Notifying government agencies after registering a death (Tell Us Once)

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 on YouTube.

Many services can be notified and these include:

• the local council: to update services such as Council Housing, Housing Benefit, Council Tax, Blue Badge and remove the person from the Electoral Register
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC): to deal with personal tax and to update regarding Child Benefit and Tax Credits claims (contact HMRC separately for business taxes, like VAT)
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): to update benefits information for example: State Pension, Universal Credit 
• Passport Office: to cancel a British passport
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): to cancel a driving licence and to remove registered keeper details, possibly for up to five vehicles
• Public Sector or Armed Forces Pension Schemes: to update pension records

How do I use the service?

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:                                                                       

• date of birth
• address of the deceased
• National Insurance number
• driving licence number
• vehicle registration number
• passport number

You will also need: 

• details of any benefits or entitlements they were receiving, for example State Pension, Universal Credit
• details of any local council services they were receiving, for example Adult Social Services, Blue Badge, travel pass
• the name and address of their next of kin
• the name and address of any surviving spouse or civil partner
• the name, address and contact details of the person or company dealing with their estate (property, belongings and money), known as their ‘executor’ or ‘administrator’
• details of any public sector or armed forces pension schemes they were getting or paying into

Please note

• Permission is required from the next of kin, the executor, the administrator and anyone who was claiming benefits or entitlements jointly with the person who died, before you give their details.
• There is no need to follow-up contact after you have used Tell Us Once unless you don’t receive a confirmation from the relevant department after a reasonable period of time, in most cases a calendar month.
• Once the various agencies informed by Tell Us Once have received notification of the death, they will make any further contact if necessary with the bereaved family. 
• Tell Us Once is not a claim to benefit, therefore please contact GOV.UK or the relevant department for advice. 
• Tell Us Once does not notify any commercial organisations of the death and cannot arrange for redirection of post. 

Frequently asked questions

Need  to register a death

The death must be registered in person in the borough where the death took place.

The “Tell Us Once” service requires a reference number

To obtain the reference number required by the “Tell Us Once” service, you can register the death in person at the registrar’s office in the borough where the death occurred. Once you have registered the death, the registrar will provide you with the reference number.

Non next of kin registering a death

If a relative cannot register the death, it can be registered by either; someone who was there at the time of the death, an occupier of the premises where the death occurred or an administrator from the hospital if the person died in hospital.

Waiting for the coroner’s verdict.

Until the coroner has given a verdict and issued an inquest or post-mortem document, the death cannot be registered.

Guidance on a death that happened overseas.

You need to get the death certificate from the country of death and liaise with the British Embassy or consulate in that country. Inform the authorities that you need a death certificate so that you can inform various agencies in the UK, i.e., DWP, etc.

Not received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. 

The medical certificate of cause of death will be emailed directly to the Registrar’s office, either by the GP or hospital. Once we have received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, we will phone the family.

In possession of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death 

If you have the copy of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death you should book an appointment to register the death and bring the certificate together with the other documents.

Next of kin unable to be present in person to register the death

The next of kin can nominate someone to register the death on their behalf. They will need to bring along the relevant documents of the deceased.

Obtaining a green slip

The green slip is issued at the time of the death registration appointment. This can be issued before an appointment if needed for a faith death.

Rescheduling a  booking

You are able to reschedule a booking up to 24hrs before the appointment day. To reschedule appointment on day of appointment please contact us.

The booking system does not display any available dates

Our booking system shows 5 days in advance. When all slots are booked, it will not show any availability.

Collecting the certificate when at the appointment

It is advisable you pay for the certificate at the time of booking your appointment.