Registering a Death
For Advice Concerning A DeathPlease contact:-
Council Offices)
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 to be made but NO later than 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.
Where can a Death be registered?
With the Registrar:-
Who can register a Death?
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.
A list of District Registrar Offices can be found here.
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 deceased's medical card or National Health number are helpful but not essential.
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 cremation to take place, and
Form 36 for production to the Social Security Offices regarding benefits.
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 £ 6.00 per copy.
Cost of Death Certificate after Registration
Full certified copy £ 12.00 , or where two or more copies of the same entry are applied for at the same time the first copy will be charged at £ 12.00 and any additional copies at £ 6.00 each, or where an applicant can supply full particulars including the register entry number and date of registration the cost will be £ 6.00 for each copy.There is an additional priority fee of £ 17.00 for death certificates produced within one hour of application for personal applications or same day for postal, telephone or Internet applications provided the application is received by 14:30 hours.
Statutory Certificates for Education & Social Security Purposes can be produced at a reduced fee of £6. Proof from the Department of Education or Department of Health and Social Services must be included with your application. These certificates may only be used for the purposes provided.
To perform a search only the fee is £ 6.00 for each five year period or part of it.
Where to obtain certified copies of Death Certificates?
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
Certified copies of births registered from 1997 can be obtained from the District Registrars Offices.
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.
