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Home > Registration service > Deaths > How to register a death

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You can now order death certificates using our online certificate request service .

How to register a death

A death must be registered in the Registration District in which it occurred.

You can register a death that took place anywhere in the areas covered by Lancashire County Council by going to any of its registration offices. All Lancashire County Council registration offices work on an appointment basis. You can get an appointment by telephoning the office of your choice.

If this is not possible or convenient to go to a registration office in the area where the death took place then details may be given to any Registrar of Births and Deaths in England or Wales who will forward these to the correct Registration District.

The main Act and regulations governing the registration of births and death are:

• Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (as amended)
• The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 (as amended)
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) Regulations 1987 (as amended)

Who can register a death?

The people who can register a death fall into two slightly different categories depending on whether the death occurred in a house or hospital etc, or elsewhere:

Deaths in a house or hospital etc. -

• a relative of the deceased
• someone present at the death
• the occupier of the house or hospital if he or she knew of the death
• another person living at the house if he or she knew of the death
• the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

Deaths elsewhere -

• a relative of the deceased
• someone present at the death
• someone who found the deceased
• a person in charge of the deceased
• the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

The majority of deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased, for registration purposes a relative is defined to be the nearest relative of the deceased.

What information needs to be supplied for the registration of a death?

• date and place of death
• name and surname of the deceased
• maiden surname (if applicable)
• date and place of birth
• occupation
• name and occupation of husband, if the deceased was a married woman or widow
• address
• whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
• if the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower

The deceased's medical card, if available, should also be given to the registrar.

It is most important that the information recorded in the death register is correct. If a mistake is made it will be difficult for the person who registered the death to have it corrected. The person registering the death should check the information to be recorded in the register very carefully before the entry is signed.

You can obtain further information about correcting particulars in a death registration from any register office.

If English is not the first language of the relative or other person registering the death and help is needed, it would be helpful for someone else to accompany him or her to the registrar's office and act as interpreter. However, the relative or other person must register the death personally as a helper cannot register instead of them.

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