Registering a Death

The death of a loved one can be a very traumatic time and Islington Council try to make it as easy as possible to register a death

Important Information

You are legally required to register the death within five days, unless a coroner is investigating the death.

The following people are able to register a death:

• a relative present at the final illness of the deceased, or present at the death
• a relative currently living in Islington
• a person present at the death
• the person arranging the funeral with the undertakers

When you go to see the registrar at Islington Town Hall, you will need to take with you a medical certificate of death. You may also find it useful to take with you the birth certificate for the deceased, as you will need to give the following information:

• full name (and any maiden name)
• if the person who died was a married woman or a widow, the full name and occupation of her husband
• date and place of birth
• occupation and usual address

The registrar will take these details and put them into the register, and once these details have been given and agreed, you will be asked to confirm this information by signing the register entry.

The registrar will provide you with a document allowing you to organise funeral arrangements, either a cremation or burial. You will also be given a form for the State Pension so that it can be cancelled. You will need to purchase a death certificate and they cost £3.50 each.

You may need further copies of the certificate for dealing with the estate of the deceased, for example insurance, taxes and bank account.

Appointments

For more information about registering a death, including how to make an appointment, see the Births and Deaths page (link on the right).