Registration of deaths
The death of someone close to you can involve enormous stress as you come to terms with your bereavement. The information below answers some of the questions you might have about registering a death to help make this part of the process just a little easier.
For information and assistance with registering a death, use our online e-form (secure).
When do you register a death?
Every death is registered with the local registrar, usually within five days. If you cannot do this, you must speak to the registrar who may be able to extend the time limit.
What if the death has been reported to the coroner?
You should wait until you hear from the coroner before you come to see us.
What do you need to tell us?
The doctor who treated the person during their last illness will usually issue a medical certificate of the cause of death. You must bring this with you when you come to see us.
We'll also need to know:
- the date of death
- where the person died
- their full name
- their date of birth
- where they were born
- their occupation
- their address
- your name and address.
For married women, we'll also need to know:
- her name before she was married
- her husband's (or late husband's) date of birth
her husband's (or late husband's) occupation.
What documents will you get?
We'll give you:
- a certificate (form BD8) for you to use when you contact the social security office about the death
- a green form that the undertaker will need to arrange the burial or cremation (unless the death has been reported to the coroner and a separate certificate issued allowing the funeral to take place - we'll tell you if this is the case).
Who can register a death?
The following people can register a death:
- a relative
- someone who was with the person when they died
- someone who lives at the address where the person died
- someone who is arranging the funeral (not the undertaker).
Where can you register a death?
If the person died in the district of Wolverhampton, you should register the death with us.
If you do not live locally, you can take the information to your local registry office, who will send it on to us. We will then post any information to you.
Do you need an appointment?
Yes. Please telephone us on 01902 554989 or use our online e-form (secure) to make an appointment.
We offer appointments from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm.
We will aim to see you within ten minutes of your appointment time, if you arrive on time.
Cost
At the time of registration a standard death certificate costs £3.50. You can pay by cash, cheque, postal order and debit or credit card at the Register Office.
Cheques and postal orders should be payable to Wolverhampton City Council and must be in sterling, drawn from a bank with a UK branch.
When accepting payment by debit or credit card we will need the full number and expiry date (plus issue number for Switch cards) when you come to register.
How do you register a death that occurred outside the UK?
When a person from England and Wales dies abroad, the death should be registered following the local regulations of the country in which it occurred, and a local death certificate obtained.
You will then need to register the death with the British Consul, so that a record of the death can be kept in England or Wales.
You will be able to get a copy of the death certificate from the consulate, or from the Overseas Registration Section.
If the death occurred in particular circumstances or the information about the death abroad is incomplete, this must be reported to a coroner in the same way as if the death occurred in England and Wales.
Copy and historical searches of deaths
We can help if you wish to trace a death registered in Wolverhampton from 1837 to the present day and if you want to purchase a copy of a certificate.
Further information
Additional information on registering a death can be found on the General Register Office website.
Contact us
If you want more details about our services, click on the relevant links or contact us using our online form or by:
e-mail: register.office@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: General enquiries 01902 554989
Phone: Appointments 01902 551234
Minicom: 01902 555770
Write or visit:
The Register Office
Wolverhampton City Council
Civic Centre
St. Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1RU
Map: Google maps