Register a death
What you need to know
When someone you care about dies, there is a lot to think about, and it may feel very confusing.
This guide is here to help you understand what happens next, one small step at a time. We hope it brings you a little comfort and makes things clearer during this time.
What happens first
A Medical Examiner will look at what happened when a person dies.
If there is no need for a postmortem or an inquest, the Medical Examiner will:
- get a form from the doctor called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
- speak to the doctor and family
- agree the cause of death
- talk to the coroner if needed
Next steps
After the checks are finished:
- the Medical Examiner’s team will email the certificate to the Register Office
- you will get a text message when this is done
In March, it took about 8 days for this checking to be completed.
The Register Office will then get in touch with you to book an appointment.
In March, it took about 10 days from the day the person died to the day the death was registered.
If the Death is referred to the coroner
Sometimes the Coroner needs to investigate a death. This happens when the cause is not clear or there are special circumstances.
After the Coroner’s investigation
When the Coroner finishes their checks, they will contact you.
If there has not been an inquest, they will send written confirmation to the Register Office.
The Register Office will contact you to book an appointment
If there is an inquest
- the death will be registered after the inquest is complete
- you don’t need to book an appointment
If you want to buy death certificates, you can order them online or by phone.
You can also check dates and times for the Coroner’s court diary online.
Booking your appointment
When we receive the paperwork, we will contact the next of kin to book a time to register the death.
If the death happened in the Wakefield district, you can register it in person at:
Wakefield Register Office
Wakefield Town Hall
Wood Street
Wakefield
WF1 2HQ
Pontefract Registration Office
Town Hall
Bridge Street
Pontefract
WF8 1PG
If getting to these places is hard for you, you can go to another Register Office in England or Wales and make what is called a declaration.
Please remember:
- if you register by declaration, you will not get certificates or funeral papers on that day
- the papers need to be sent back to Wakefield
- this might slow things down for the funeral and other arrangements
To talk about registering by declaration, please call 0345 485 2888.
Where to Register
A death must be registered in person at the Register Office in the district where it happened.
Timeframe for Registration
A death should be registered within five days of the Register Office receiving the paperwork.
This can take longer if the Coroner is involved or in special cases.
If you haven’t heard from us
If you are the next of kin and haven’t heard from us 2 days after the Medical Examiner or Coroners confirmation, please call us.
We can check if we have the paperwork and arrange your appointment.
If we don’t have it, you may need to contact the Medical Examiner or the doctor.
What happens if the death is referred to the coroner
Sometimes, a death needs to be looked into by the Coroner. This might happen if the cause of death isn’t clear or if certain circumstances apply.
After the Coroner’s investigation
Once the Coroner has finished their investigation, they will contact you and send written confirmation to the Register Office so the death can be officially registered.
If an inquest is held
If the Coroner holds an inquest (a formal investigation into the death) the death will be registered after the inquest is complete. You don’t need to book an appointment to register the death.
If you wish to buy death certificates you can order these online on our Ordering a certificate page, or contact us by telephone.
You can use the coroners court Diary to check availability of the coroner and see the upcoming hearings and appointments.
To learn more about what Coroner's do, visit our Role of the Coroner page.
Your appointment to register a death
Where and when
We will contact you to arrange an appointment at Wakefield or Pontefract.
You will get an email with the details.
Please arrive on time
The appointment takes about 30 minutes.
If you are late, we may not be able to see you.
What you’ll need
The registrar will ask for some important information:
- the date of death
- the place of death
- the name of the hospital or nursing home
- the name or number of the house
- the name of the street, village and town
- if the death took place in an ambulance or car:
- information about where the vehicle was when the death and the intended destination.
- name and surname
- sex – male or female
- maiden surname – their surname before their first marriage
- date of birth – if not known please give approximate dates
- place of birth
- occupation
- most recent occupation
- retired
- usual address
You don’t have to bring documents, but these can help:
- passport or birth certificate
- proof of address
- Deed Poll (if needed)
- NHS Medical Card
- marriage or civil partnership certificates
What you will receive
- Form 9 (Green Form) – for the funeral director
- Death certificates – £12.50 each (card payment only)
- Tell Us Once details – a free service to tell government departments
You’ll get a nine‑digit code to use online or by phone.
For more information you can watch our short video explaining the service, or visit the GOV.UK Tell Us Once web page.
Correcting a death registration
If you find a mistake, you can apply to have it corrected.
- Contact us first
We’ll explain what to do. - Fill in a form
You’ll need to say what the mistake is and how it happened and show documents with the correct information. - Visit the GOV.UK Application form to correct details on a death registration page
- Cost
£83 or £99 depending on the correction
£12.50 for each corrected certificate (if you want one) - Return any old certificates
These must be destroyed.
Ordering death certificates
You can order copies online or by calling 0345 4 852 888.
Copies can only be bought after registration or after the Coroner finishes an inquest.
Baby loss certificate
If you experienced a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, you can request a commemorative certificate in memory of your baby.
Registering a stillbirth
If your baby was stillborn, a doctor or midwife will email the Register Office a Medical Certificate of Stillbirth.
You must register a stillbirth within 42 days in the district where it happened.
What happens next
When we get the certificate, we will contact you to book an appointment.
If you haven’t heard from us within 2 days, please call 0345 4 852 888.
Who can register?
- married parents: either parent
- unmarried parents: the father’s details can be added if
- he comes with the mother, or
- he sends a special form (we can provide this)
If neither parent can attend, please contact us.
What you’ll be asked
We will ask for:
- date and place of the stillbirth
- the name (if you choose one)
- mother’s details
- father’s details (if included)
What you will receive
- certificate of Registration – free
- certificate for Burial or Cremation – needed for the funeral
- certificate of Stillbirth – can be bought for £12.50 at the appointment
Bereavement Support
You can speak to your GP, midwife, or health visitor for support.
You may also find help through support groups like:
SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)
- helpline: 020 7436 5881
- website: www.uk-sands.org
Emergency out-of-hours service
If you need urgent burial papers or need to move a body out of England:
- we are available Sundays and Bank Holidays from 9am to 10am (not Christmas Day)
- the Medical Examiner will contact staff if needed
- you can also email: wakefieldregistrars@wakefield.gov.uk
- for more information, please read the leaflet from the Medical Examiner