What You Need To Do in Times of Bereavement
When death occurs at home:
How to register a death
You need to make an appointment to register a death. Please phone 0345 155 1002 in order to do so.
Who can register a death?
It is preferable for a relative or executor of the deceased to register the death. If a relative or executor is not available then the following people can register the death:
Where can I register a death?
You can register the death at the registration office which is most convenient for you, however it is recommended that the death is registered in the district in which it took place. There are 10 registration offices in the Devon area. Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council have their own responsibility for registration services.
What will happen when I register a death?
You must take the Medical Certificate of Death showing the cause of death (signed by a doctor) with you. You should also take some form of identification for yourself (suggested documents: passport, council tax bill, driving licence, birth certificate, utility bill).
If available, then you should also take the deceased's NHS medical card, birth certificate and marriage or civil partnership certificate.
You will also need to tell the registrar:
What documents will I be given?
Death certificates may be purchased from the registrar on the day of registration at a cost. It is likely that you will need certificates when it comes to sorting out the person's affairs.
Tell us Once
The Tell Us Once service allows you to report the death once, it means we can tell other government organisations on your behalf. At the end of your appointment you will have the opportunity to provide the registrar with information that they can use to inform these other organisations.
You must be able to provide the deceased's National Insurance Number and take as many of the following documents as possible to your appointment:
Deaths reported to a Coroner
A small number of deaths have to be reported to the Coroner before they may be registered and before documentation allowing the funeral to go ahead can be issued. In the following circumstances the Registrar will report the death to the Coroner if it has not already happened:
Once a death has been reported to the Coroner, the Registrar is unable to go ahead with the registration until
the Coroner has decided whether any further investigation into the death is necessary.