If following the death, the doctor can certify as to the cause of death, he or she will ask the family to call at either the hospital or surgery to collect the death certificate. This certificate is known as 'The Medical Certificate of cause of death'. The certificate is free of charge and will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the Registrar.

The death must be registered with five days of the death, unless the Registrar says this period may be exceeded.

The following people can register the death:

• A close relative of the deceased
• A relative in attendance during the deceased's last illness.
• A relative living in the district where the death occurred.
• A person present at the death.
• The person responsible for organising the funeral, for example, Solicitor.

You will need to make an appointment to register the death and you will need to take the following with you:

• The Medical Certificate of the cause of death.
• The deceased's medical card, if possible.
• The deceased's birth and marriage certificates, if available.

The Registrar will ask you:

• The deceased's first names and surname (and the maiden name, where appropriate).
• The full postal address of the deceased.
• The deceased date of birth (town and country if born in the UK, and country if born abroad)
• The date and place of death.
• The deceased's occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse.
• If the deceased was married, the date and place of birth of the surviving widow or widower.

Upon registration, the Registrar will give you a Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register of Deaths (white form). This certificate is often referred to as the 'Death Certificate' and you may need this for official purposes such as closing bank accounts, Will, pensions claims, insurance policies, etc. It is advised that you obtain at least two copies of the certificate which cost £3.50 each. The Funeral Director does not need a copy of this certificate.

A Registrars Certificate for the Burial or Cremation (otherwise known as the Green Certificate) will be given and this must be given to the Funeral Director who will then forward it to the appropriate authority.

The certificate of registration or notification of death is needed to claim benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), formerly known as the D.S.S. (Social Fund).

Death referred to HM Coroner

If the death is sudden, other than an obvious accident such as a road accident and a doctor has not seen the deceased during the last 14 days, then HM Coroner (England and Wales) or Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) may need to be involved.

HM Coroner will decide whether to hold a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death; this should not delay the funeral. The Coroner's Officer will keep the next of kin informed about what to do.

The Pathologist will inform the HM Coroner of the result of the examination and if the death is from natural causes, HM Coroner will inform the Registrar; who then registers the death. The Registrar will only issue "The Registrars Certificate for Burial or Cremation" if burial is required.

If the case is to be a Cremation, HM Coroner will issue a Coroner's E Form for cremation. This will be sent directly to the Funeral Director.

The next of kin will then be able to attend the Registrars to collect the Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register of Deaths; the white form necessary for the official purposes such as closing bank accounts, etc.

If the death is not form natural causes, HM Coroner will open an inquest into the death. This will happen within five days of the death. If this is the case, the funeral may be delayed.

If the cause of death is given in evidence at the opening of the inquest, HM Coroner will usually allow burial or cremation to take place. If the cause of death is not established, or death is due to homicide (or a person is to be prosecuted), HM Coroner will only allow a burial to take place.