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Register a death

A death should be registered within 5 days.

The GP or hospital will issue a medical certificate of cause of death or the coroner will issue paperwork.

The paperwork and contact details of the next of kin will be emailed to the Register Office.

The Registrar will call the next of kin when these are received to arrange an appointment to register the death.

There is no cost to register a death

Certificates

Certificates cost £11 each.

If you would like to buy extra copies of a death certificate after registering the death visit our buy a copy of a certificate page.

What information we need to know

When registering the death, we'll ask you for:

  • their full name and any previous names
  • their job or last job if retired or unemployed due to disability
  • their address
  • date and place of birth
  • date and place of death
  • the full name, job and date of birth of their spouse or partner if they were married or in a civil partnership

Who can register a death

You can register the death if:

  • you're a relative
  • you were there at the time of death
  • you found the body
  • you're an administrator at the hospital, hospice or care home where the person died
  • you're in charge of making funeral arrangements

Certificate for burial or cremation (the green form)

The green form gives permission for either:

  • the body to be buried
  • an application for cremation to be made.

Once the death has been registered the form can be emailed by the Registrar to the relevant organisation organising the funeral.

Tell Us Once

The Registrar will provide a unique reference number for accessing the Department for Work & Pensions Tell Us Once (TUO) Service.

This service allows Local and Central Government departments to be notified of the death at the same time. 

The Registrar does not need a National Insurance number, but, it is helpful to have the number when you complete the Tell Us Once form.

Apply for a correction

A correction to a death registration can only be made if the information is incorrect.

If you notice a mistake on the death certificate you will need to complete a form on the GOV.UK website.

Once you have completed the form send it to the Plymouth Register Office with the necessary documents. The relevant fee should be paid to the Plymouth Register Office.

More information and help

The GOV.UK website will guide you on what to do when someone dies.