Registering a death

How do I register a death which took place in Derby?

A death must be registered in the registration district in which it happened. 

To make an appointment to register a death, please use our online booking system. If you do not have access to the internet, please call 01332 641680.

If you are unable to travel to Derby to register the death, please contact your local Register Office where you can make a declaration. This will then be sent to Derby electronically to be officially registered. All required forms and certificates will then be posted directly to you.

Who can register a death?

In order of preference, the following persons are legally responsible for registering a death:

• a relative present at the death
• a relative
• a person present at the death
• an occupant of the house or official from the hospital, if that is where the death occurred
• the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors but not the funeral directors themselves.

Most deaths are registered by a relative. We would not normally allow one of the other people listed above to register the death unless there are no relatives available to do it.

What documents should I bring?

• the medical certificate stating 'cause of death' issued by the doctor or coroner - this usually will have been sent electronically, directly to the Register Office
• the deceased's birth certificate and medical card would be helpful but are not essential
• some form of identification for both the person who has died and the person registering the death.

What information will the registrar ask for?

• the date and place of death
• the full names and surname of the person who has died
• any maiden surname - if applicable
• the date and place of birth of the person who has died
• the occupation or former occupation of the person who has died
• if the deceased was a married person, the full name and occupation of her/his husband or wife
• the name and occupation of the civil partner, if the deceased was in a civil partnership or was a surviving civil partner
• if the deceased was still married or in a civil partnership, the date of birth of their widow, widower or civil partner
• the deceased's usual address
• your full name and address
• information on any government pensions or allowances received by the deceased.

What documents will I receive?

We will issue a form for you to give to the funeral director to enable the burial or cremation, unless this has already been issued by the coroner, and a form for the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP).

Registration of a death is free of charge but a fee is payable for any certified death certificates. Death certificates are needed for many purposes, including:

• probate or letters of administration
• bank and building society accounts
• insurance policies
• dealing with stocks and shares owned by the deceased
• family records.

You will need to pay by debit or credit card as we only accept cash in certain circumstances.

Tell Us Once

Once the registration has been completed, we will capture the deceased name and date of death on the Tell Us Once system. You will then be provided with an access code and instructions for completing the enrichment process yourself, either online or by telephone. 

You can also access information about Tell Us Once through the Directgov website. 

How do I register a death that happened outside Derby?

We cannot register a death which took place outside the Derby city boundary. However, we can acknowledge a declaration from you and post it to the relevant district office. The office that registers the death will then post any forms and certificates directly to you.

If you live in Derby and are unable to attend the office in the area where the death occurred, please use our online booking system to make an appointment. If you do not have access to the internet, please call 01332 641680.

Opening times

Any questions?

If you have a question or comment regarding bereavement please complete the Bereavement Advice and Support form.

Need a copy certificate?

You can apply and pay for a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate online.