How quickly do I have to register a death?

In England and Wales, within 5 days of the register office receiving the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). Since September 2024 a medical examiner reviews every death and sends the certificate directly to the register office — they or the GP's surgery will tell you when it's gone through, and the registrar can't book you in before it arrives. In Scotland you have 8 days and can register at any registration office; Northern Ireland registers within 5 days through its own system. If a coroner is involved, the timescales pause — that's normal, not a problem.

How many death certificates should I buy?

Several — most people buy 5 to 10. Banks, insurers, pension providers and the probate service often want certified copies (not photocopies), and at £12.50 each from the registrar they're far cheaper to buy at registration than to order later one by one. Extra copies can always be ordered from the General Register Office at the same price.

Who can register the death and what do I bring?

Usually a relative — but someone present at the death, the person arranging the funeral, or an occupier of the place where they died can also do it. Helpful to bring: the deceased's full name (and any previous names), date and place of birth, last address, occupation, and if available their birth certificate, NHS number and details of a surviving spouse or civil partner. You'll book the appointment with the register office for the district where they died.

What money help is there after a death?

Three big ones: Bereavement Support Payment (up to £9,800 if your partner died before State Pension age — claim within 3 months of the death for the full amount, 21 months at the latest), the Funeral Expenses Payment (burial/cremation fees plus up to £1,000 if you're on a qualifying benefit, claim within 6 months of the funeral), and in Scotland the Funeral Support Payment. Pension Credit and other benefits may also newly apply to the surviving partner.

Registering a death — the first days, Tell Us Once & what can wait (2026)

Q: What is Tell Us Once?

A free government service that reports the death to most public bodies in one go — DWP (State Pension and benefits), HMRC, DVLA, HM Passport Office and the council (Council Tax, Blue Badge, electoral roll). The registrar gives you a unique Tell Us Once reference when you register; use it online or by phone within 28 days. It saves dozens of separate difficult phone calls. It's not available in Northern Ireland, where you notify organisations individually.

First: the medical certificate (you mostly wait)

Since September 2024, every death in England and Wales is reviewed by a medical examiner (or a coroner). The medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is then sent directly to the register office — you don’t carry paper anymore. The GP surgery, hospital or medical examiner’s office will tell you when it’s gone through.
Coroner involved? Registration pauses until they’ve finished — that’s a normal part of the system, not a sign anything’s wrong. The coroner’s office can issue interim certificates so the funeral and practical matters can proceed.
The funeral itself doesn’t have to wait for everything — funeral directors handle the sequencing daily and will guide you.

Take this pressure off The 5-day clock starts when the register office receives the certificate — not from the death itself. You cannot register before it arrives, so the waiting days are not you being slow. Nothing else on this page is urgent in week one except the registration appointment.

Register within 5 days — one appointment, three things

Book the register office for the district where the person died (find it via your council). Usually a relative registers; someone present at the death or the person arranging the funeral can too.
Bring what you can — their full name (and previous names), date and place of birth, last address, occupation, and if handy their birth certificate, NHS number and surviving spouse or civil partner’s details. Missing documents rarely stop a registration.
Leave with three things: the green form (Certificate for Burial or Cremation — your funeral director needs it), certified death certificates at £12.50 each, and your Tell Us Once reference.

Buy 5–10 certificates at the appointment Banks, insurers, pension providers and probate each want certified copies, often simultaneously. They’re £12.50 each from the registrar (and the same from the General Register Office later) — buying a small stack now saves weeks of waiting later.

Tell Us Once — the one call that does the rest

Free, run by the government, used with the reference the registrar gives you — online or by phone, within 28 days.
One session notifies: DWP (State Pension and benefits), HMRC, DVLA (licence and vehicle), HM Passport Office, and the council (Council Tax, Blue Badge, electoral roll, council housing).
Still to do separately: banks and building societies, private and workplace pensions, insurers, utilities and subscriptions. Do these in your own time — a certificate copy and a short call each.
The mail of the person who died can be redirected — and a Royal Mail Special Circumstances redirection handles a deceased person’s post via a paper form.

The money help that follows

Bereavement Support Payment — up to £9,800 if your husband, wife or civil partner died before State Pension age. Claim within 3 months of the death for the full amount (21 months at the absolute latest).
Funeral Expenses Payment — burial or cremation fees plus up to £1,000 if you’re on a qualifying benefit; claim within 6 months of the funeral. Scotland has the Funeral Support Payment instead.
Pension Credit and other benefits may newly apply to a surviving partner whose household income has changed — worth a full check once the first weeks have passed.
Probate is only needed for larger estates or property — and there’s help with the fee on a low income. It can wait.

Do this now

Book the registration appointment when the certificate is confirmed, and at it: take the green form, buy 5–10 certificates, and ask for the Tell Us Once reference — then use it within 28 days.

Losing a partner? Diary the 3-month Bereavement Support Payment window — it’s the one money deadline that quietly shrinks the award if missed.

Scotland & Northern Ireland Scotland: register within 8 days, at any registration office, with its own certificate fees (NRS). Northern Ireland: register within 5 days via GRONI — Tell Us Once isn’t available in NI, so organisations are notified individually.

And you There is no deadline on grief. Cruse Bereavement Support — 0808 808 1677 — is free, and Samaritans — 116 123 — answer at any hour. The paperwork will keep.

Registering a death — common questions

How quickly must I register?

Within 5 days of the register office receiving the medical certificate (England & Wales) — the medical examiner sends it directly, and you can't register before it arrives, so the wait isn't you being slow. Scotland: 8 days, any office. Coroner cases pause the clock.

What is Tell Us Once?

A free service that notifies DWP, HMRC, DVLA, the Passport Office and the council in one go, using the reference your registrar gives you — online or by phone within 28 days. Not available in Northern Ireland.

How many certificates do I need?

Most people buy 5–10 at £12.50 each — banks, insurers, pensions and probate often want certified copies at the same time. Cheaper and faster to buy at registration than to order one by one later.

Who can register, and what do I bring?

Usually a relative; otherwise someone present at the death or arranging the funeral. Bring what you have — their full name, date and place of birth, address, occupation, ideally their birth certificate and NHS number. Missing documents rarely stop a registration.

What money help follows?

Bereavement Support Payment (up to £9,800 — claim within 3 months for the full amount), Funeral Expenses Payment on qualifying benefits (within 6 months of the funeral), and a fresh benefits check for the surviving partner.

Sources Registration sequence and the 5-day rule (from the registrar receiving the MCCD) · GOV.UK what to do when someone dies + register-office guidance. Medical examiner system (all E&W deaths reviewed since Sept 2024; MCCD sent direct to the register office) · GOV.UK MCCD guidance. Tell Us Once coverage · GOV.UK. Certificate fee £12.50 · GRO (verified for the certificates guide). Bereavement Support Payment + Funeral Expenses Payment windows · GOV.UK / DWP. Emotional support · Cruse 0808 808 1677 · Samaritans 116 123. SortedUK is not a government body and this is general information. Last reviewed: 11 June 2026.

Registering a death — what needs doing now, and what can wait.

First: the medical certificate (you mostly wait)

Register within 5 days — one appointment, three things

Tell Us Once — the one call that does the rest

The money help that follows

Registering a death — common questions

When you’re ready — the rest of the paperwork, calmly.