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Register a death
A death should normally be registered within five days. However if a coroner is investigating the death, this may take longer.
The death should be registered at the register office in the district where the death occurred. For deaths in Warrington, you should register it at Warrington Register Office, Museum Street, Warrington, WA1 1JX.
Who can register a death
It's preferable for a close relative of the deceased to register the death. However other people can do so, such as:
- A person who was present at the death
- The person arranging the funeral (not a funeral director)
- The administrator of the care home where the deceased was resident
You will need to make an appointment to register a death. If you can't make an appointment online, or if the coroner is involved, call 01925 442194.
What to bring to the appointment
You must bring the medical certificate of cause of death issued by a doctor. If the death has been referred to the coroner you will be told what to do by the coroner's office.
It's useful to bring other documentation relating to the deceased such as:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Utility bill
- Birth and marriage/civil partnership certificates
- NHS medical card
- Deed poll/name change documents
If they had a blue badge, you can also hand it in to your Registrar at your appointment, for your convenience.
It's also useful if you can bring your own:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Proof of address (such as a utility bill or council tax statement, for example)
Do not worry if any of these documents are not available as the registrar is able to complete the registration without them. However, please be advised that as of 1 November 2017 there will be a charge of between £75.00 and £90.00 for a correction to a registration. Please ensure that you know all the necessary information and that you check the register page extremely carefully before signing it. Errors or omissions in registers can lead to problems using copy certificates for official purposes in the future, and applying for a correction can be time consuming as well as costly.
Information you'll be asked
The registrar will need to know the following information about the deceased:
- date and place of death
- full name, surname and maiden surname if a married woman
- date and place of birth
- occupation and if a married woman or widow, the full name and occupation of her husband
- usual home address
- if married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower
- whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds.
Certificates and forms
A green form will be given to you at your registration appointment. This form is for you to give to the funeral director, meaning they can go ahead with the funeral arrangements (other procedures may apply if the death has been referred to the coroner). You will also be given a form for social security purposes. These are free of charge.
You can buy death certificates at your appointment. These are £11.00 each and payment can be made in cash or by credit/debit card.