Registering the Death
Our advice to all families is that when a death occurs they contact us immediately. In many cases now when people pass away in hospital, it is not necessary for us to attend immediately, however, our staff can give the helpful advice needed to put people’s minds at ease, and to ensure that the family are aware of everything which is needed to be done. Our main telephone number is 01225 702521, and all area office numbers are manned by local experienced funeral staff at all times night and day.
Once the cause of death has been certified by a doctor (or, in some cases, a coroner), the next step is to get a formal certified death certificate from your local registrar.
When can I register?
Before the funeral (unless the coroner is involved) and within five days of the death occurring. This is a legal requirement in England and Wales.
Who can register?
- A close relative of the deceased.
- A relative in attendance during the illness.
- A relative living in the district where the death occurred.
- A person present at the death.
- The person responsible for the payment of the funeral account.
Where can I register?
- The Registrar’s office for the District in which the death occurred.
- If the death occurred in Wiltshire contact the Registrar on 0300 0034569. On phoning you will be given an appointment.
- If the death occurred within the Swindon Borough boundary the Registrar’s phone number is 01793 521734. On phoning you will be given an appointment.
- If the death occurred in Bath and North East Somerset contact the Registrar on 01225 477234. On phoning you will be given an appointment.
What do you need to take?
- The Death Certificate.
- The deceased’s birth and marriage certificate.
- The deceased’s National Health Service Card.
- Any document relating to pension or allowances received by the deceased from public funds.
(If you don’t have all these documents let the registrar know any information that may help).
What will the registrar ask me?
- Full name of deceased (and maiden name if applicable).
- Date and place of death.
- Date and place of birth.
- Last full time occupation and home address.
- Name and address of the informant.
- If married, full name and occupation of surviving spouse.
- Whether the deceased was in receipt of a state pension.
What documents are issued by the Registrar?
- A certificate for burial or cremation, known as the ‘green form’.
(The green form is then given to the funeral director by the family).
- A cream certificate of certified copy of entry in the Register of Deaths.
- A white certificate of registration of death (Form BD8). Issued for social security purposes if the deceased received state benefits.
- The Registrar now provides a ‘Tell Us Once’ service where they will notify all statutory organisations that need to be advised of the death. See below
- If a post –mortem is needed and the deceased is to be cremated the coroner will send all necessary paperwork directly to the Funeral Director.
THE ‘TELL US ONCE’ SERVICE
Most local councils run a service called Tell Us Once - it lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go.
Your local registrar will tell you about using Tell Us Once and give you a unique reference number to access the service online or by telephone. You may be able to use it at the time you register the death. You’ll need to take with you the deceased’s:
- National Insurance number
- Driving licence number
- Passport number
- Details of any benefits or entitlements they were getting, eg State Pension
- Details of any local council services they were getting, eg Blue Badge
Tell Us Once can then inform:
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - to deal with tax and cancel benefits
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - to cancel benefits, eg income support
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) - to cancel a driving licence
- Passport Office - to cancel a passport
- The local council - to cancel housing benefit, council tax benefit, a Blue Badge, and inform council housing