Who To Inform

Inland Revenue
If the deceased person was paying tax on income for employment or investments.

Social Security
The registrar will issue a form BD8 to inform the DSS and stop any pensions or benefits the person was receiving. The BD8 also starts the process of claiming bereavement benefit if appropriate.

Social Services
If the person was getting meals-on-wheels, home help, was in residential accommodation or attending a day-care centre, or had an appliance or piece of equipment issued by the department.

Medical Services
Any hospital, doctor or dentist the person was attending.
Other interested parties

You may need to contact some or all of the following agencies:
Employer/employee's pension
Trade union
Car insurance and driving licence (DVLA, Longview Road, Swansea, SA6 7JL)
Car registration documents
Utility companies
Council housing
Banks/building societies
Post office
UK passport office (0870 521 0410)
Insurance or pension policy companies
The person's solicitor
TV licensing
Premium bonds
Land Registry (if the deceased person had a home in their name)
Any clubs or societies

Junk Mail
After a death, it is very distressing for families to receive junk mail addressed to the deceased. The Bereavement Register, launched three years ago, allows you to request that the persons name be removed from mailing lists, databases and telemarketing files. This is a simple process which will put an end to unnecessary distress at an already highly emotional time. You can contact the Bereavement Register by phone on 0870 600 7222, or pick up a leaflet in your local Funeral Directors. You can also register on line at: www.the-bereavement-register.org.uk
If the death was of a child or baby, there is a specific baby mailing preference service which will help to reduce the number of baby-related mailings you receive.Information can be found on their

Also, if you will now be living alone at your home address, you should contact the council tax billing authority (for a reduction in council tax).

The Coroner
The coroner is a doctor or lawyer responsible for investigating deaths in the following situations.
The deceased was not attended by a doctor during the last illness or the doctor treating the deceased had not seen him or her after death or within the 14 days before the death.
The death was violent or unnatural or occurred under suspicious circumstances
The cause of death is unknown or uncertain
The death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation or did not recover from the anaesthetic
The death was caused by industrial disease
The death occurred in prison or in police custody.
The coroner may arrange a post mortem examination. The relatives consent is not required, but they are entitled to be represented at the examination by a doctor.
If the examination shows that the death was due to natural causes, the coroner will issue notification to the registrar and the family can register the death. He will issue authority to the funeral director for a cremation, where appropriate.
If an inquest is required, the coroner will inform the family direct. Further information about inquests can be obtained from the register office or from the coroner direct who can be contacted via your local police station.
General information about Death Certificates

Standard Certificates
This is a full copy of the death entry.
Certificates for Specific Purposes
Certificates for specific statutory purposes (eg Social Security) are also available. If you have been asked to obtain such a certificate please place a tick in the appropriate box.

Searches of Death Indexes
Superintendent Registrars do not have the staff to undertake searches of an indefinite or protracted nature. Usually a search in the death index, covering a period not exceeding 5 years, will be made but only where accurate details have been given of the death. If a wider search is required it is necessary for the applicant or someone on his/her behalf to make a GENERAL SEARCH in the indexes. For further information see below and then make enquiries of the Superintendent Registrar.
General Searches at a Superintendent Registrar's Office
The indexes in a Superintendent Registrar's office relate only to births, marriages and deaths which occurred within the Superintendent Registrar's district.

A GENERAL SEARCH is a search in the indexes conducted in person by the applicant or someone on his/her behalf during any number of successive hours not exceeding six. By arrangements with the Superintendent Registrar, a person making a GENERAL SEARCH may have access to the indexes to the registers of births, marriages and deaths but not to the registers themselves. A certificate of any entry identified may be obtained on completion of an application form and on payment of the appropriate fee.
If a person making a GENERAL SEARCH is uncertain whether a reference found in the indexes relates to the entry for which he/she is searching the Superintendent Registrar, on being given definite details by which the entry may be identified, will verify those particulars by reference to the register. Any additional information from the entry can only be made available in the form of a certificate.

Death Certificates - Estimating the quantity to purchase
Form BD8 'Notification of Death' for the Dept of Works and Pensions is issued free of charge.
No other certificates are free. Various organisations need to examine a death certificate, many will return this promptly whilst some will wish to keep the document. Certificates issued at the time of registration are £3.50 each. This fee rises to £7.00 one month after the register has been filled and closed. Prices are correct to 31 March 2006. The following is a guide to your possible needs:
Certificates are Crown Copyright and should not be photocopied for official purposes.

Banks
Require a Registrar's certificate but will normally return it.

Building Societies
Require a Registrar's certificate but will normally return it.

Funeral Directors
Will only require a Registrar's certificate if a pre-paid plan has been set up.

Pension Companies
Require a Registrar's certificate but will normally return it.

Premium Bonds and National Savings
Require a Registrar's certificate but will normally return it.

Life Insurance/Assurance
Companies require a Registrar's certificate and some will return it.

Contracts and Agreements
Tenancies, hire purchase, mobile phones may need a Registrar's certificate to terminate.

Council Tax
The local authority may require a Registrar's certificate but will return it.

Probate and Wills
If the Estate goes to probate a Registrar's certificate will be required and not returned

Accountants
May need to have a Registrar's certificate.

Inland Revenue
May require a Registrar's certificate but will return it.

Shares
Companies need to keep a Registrar's certificate, other arrangements may apply to shares in nominee accounts.

Travel Bookings
If you need to cancel any travel/holiday bookings, a Registrar's certificate is required.

Council Housing
The local authority will require a Registrar's certificate but will return it.

Repatriation
Repatriation of a deceased body from abroad
The foreign registration authority will issue a death certificate which needs to be taken to the registrar of the district in which the burial or cremation is taking place. The registrar will issue a document called a "Certificate of non liability to registrar". This is the document that will be given to the funeral director in order to allow the funeral to proceed.

Repatriation of a deceased body from England to overseas
Some countries require a Cadaver Certificate before they will allow a body into the country for burial. The certificate, if issued, confirms that no epidemic of infectious disease occurred in the borough for some three months preceding the death. This formality of obtaining a cadaver certificate is usually handled by the undertaker, making the arrangement on behalf of the relatives. However, anyone can apply.

The funeral director will also help with anything requested by the Coroner and with requirements of the authorities in the overseas country to which the deceased is going. Some of these requirements may apply for burial in another part of the United Kingdom. The certificate is issued by the Environmental Health Officer for the Council in whose area the person died, or is to be exhumed from before reburial.

Any links to other sites are for information only South Bucks District Council accept no responsibility or liability for access to, or the material on, any site which is linked from or to this site.

Help for Those Who are Left
The Government introduced a new system of bereavement benefits for men and women from April 2001. For specific advice about bereavement benefit, or any other benefits, please contact the Benefits Agency nearest your home address, their number can be found in the phone book.
The Citizens Advice Bureau will also be able to offer some advice on benefits and other practical matters.
If you feel that you want more than practical advice, and that you need to talk with someone sympathetic who is outside your family, there are several organisations which give this kind of support:

There are numerous leaflets offering help and advice at this difficult time, most are available in your local register office SETUP LINK and the staff there will issue everything which is relevant to you when you register the death.
If you need further publications your local Benefits Agency should be able to help or visit the Department for Work and Pensions website. www.dwp.gov.uk (opens a new window to external site)