Registering a death

How to register a death

When a death occurs in Cheshire East the paperwork will be handled by either the Medical Examiner or the Coroner who will advise you when they have sent the appropriate paperwork to the register office.  Deaths should normally be registered within 5 days of the paperwork being received by the register office. 

• When you have been advised that the paperwork has been received by the register office you can phone 0300 123 5019 to make an appointment to register the death.
• You will then receive an email confirming your appointment with information about the details you will need to register the death. The email will also include details of how to pre-pay for any death certificates that you require.
• Due to office capacity a maximum of two people can attend for the appointment.

If there is an inquest, or the death is referred to the coroner, the coroner's officer will advise you how the case is progressing.

For information on deaths that happen abroad visit Register a death - GOV.UK

For information if the deceased needs to be buried within 24 hours of death for religious reasons visit Urgent burial within 24 hours 

Where to register a death

Appointments are available at Crewe Municipal Buildings or Macclesfield Town Hall.

Certain people have legal duty to give information for the registration of a death, in order of preference they are as follows:

• a relative or partner of the deceased
• a personal representative of the deceased (a solicitor, family friend etc. appointed by the deceased themselves, or by the family)
• a person  who was present at the death
• the person making the funeral arrangements 

Information the registrar will need about the death:

• the date and place of death
• their full name and any other names they are known by or have been known by and the maiden name of a woman who has been married
• their date and place of birth
• their occupation (if married, widowed or a civil partner, the full name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner)
• their usual address
• date of birth of surviving spouse or civil partner
• whether they were in receipt of any public sector pension, e.g. civil service, teacher, armed forces (reference number if known)

There is no legal requirement to provide any identification documents at a registration, however if you have access to the deceased’s passport, birth certificate, marriage/civil partnership certificate, medical card etc. it can be useful to bring them to your appointment. When the registration is completed, you will be asked to check and confirm the details entered into the register. Should you later find you have made a mistake, you will be liable for a correction fee of either £83 or £99 – Correct a death registration: How to apply - GOV.UK.

Information the registrar will need about the person registering the death:

• relationship to the deceased
• full name
• usual address

Once the registration is complete the registrar will produce:

• A certificate for burial or cremation, known as the green form, which the funeral director will need. Arrangements are in place for this green form to be sent directly to the appropriate person
• Death certificates. You may need certified copies of the death entry for dealing with the will, probate, bank accounts, insurance and so on. Everyone's circumstances are different, but the average number of certificates issued to deal with the deceased's estate is five. You may need fewer but if you find you need more later, these can be purchased from the register office Duplicate Certificates.

Certificates that are issued:

• A certificate for burial or cremation, known as the green form, which the funeral director will need. Arrangements are in place for us to send the 'green' to the appropriate person
• A certificate for the Benefits Agency. You will need to complete this and send it to off to cancel the deceased's state pension and any other state allowances.
• Death certificates. You may need certified copies of the death entry for other purposes (dealing with the will, probate, bank accounts, insurance and so on). Everyone's circumstances are different, but the average number of certificates issued to deal with the deceased's estate is five. You may need fewer and if you find you need more later, these can be purchased from the register office.

Paying for a death certificate

There is no facility to take payment during your appointment. You can buy any certificates you need before your appointment by completing the pay for a death certificate online form. The fee is £12.50 per certificate and the form takes 2 minutes to complete. 

Pay for a death certificate

Have your receipt available to show the registrar and they will be able to print your certificates during the registration appointment.

Tell us once

Cheshire East operates the Tell Us Once service. This service allows you to report a death just once and tell those parts of central and local government that require informing, about that death. You will be given a unique reference will be issued during the appointment and you can then either telephone a central number with your reference or go online and access the system. 

The Tell Us Once service has produced a short video to explain how the Tell Us Once service works. It lasts for less than three minutes.

For information on Bereavement Services, see Cheshire East Bereavement Services.

Contact the Register Office

Email creweregisteroffice@cheshireeast.gov.uk or see Gov.UK.