Life Events

Bereavement

Registering a death

The death must be registered in the District Register Office where it occurred.

Barking and Dagenham Register Office|

Frances Stock

Superintendent Registrar

Arden House Register Office

198 Longbridge Road

Barking

IG11 8SY

Tel: 020 8270 4744

Fax: 020 8270 4745

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 9.30am - 4pm.

Home Visits

Home visits to register a birth, death or still birth are entirely at the discretion of the Registrar, and are subject to many and varied criteria. Please contact Registrars (details above) for further details.

When does the Death need to be Registered?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a death should be registered within 5 days of its happening. Registration can be delayed for a further 9 days provided the Registrar receives, in writing, confirmation that a medical certificate of the cause of death has been signed by the doctor.

Who can Register the Death?

People with legal responsibility to register include:

A relative of the deceased
A person present at the death
A person arranging the funeral - This does not mean the funeral director

In certain circumstances others, such as the administrator of an elderly persons home, can register a death, for advice please contact the Register Office.

What is needed to Register the Death?

The Registrar will interview you in private and will need to know the following information:

The date and place of death
The full name and surname, and maiden surname if the person who has died was a married woman
The date and place of birth
The occupation and, if the deceased person was a married woman or widow the full name and occupation of her husband
The usual address
If the person who has died was married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse
Whether the person who has died was receiving a pension from public funds

You will need to bring:

The medical certificate of cause of death issued by the doctor treating the person who has died. This is essential - the Registrar can do nothing without it. If the death has been referred to the Coroner, the Coroner's Office will advise you what to do
If the deceased received a pension or allowance from public funds, e.g. Civil Service or Army Pensions, please inform the Registrar

The Registrar will enter all these details into a computer system and will then give you the opportunity to check they are correct. The information will then be written into a register. This is the 'original' legal record and you should check it through very carefully before signing it, as any mistakes discovered later on may be difficult to correct.

What Documents Will I Receive?

A 'Green Form' which enables you to arrange the funeral (If the Coroner is involved different procedures may apply)
You will also be given a form for Social Security purposes

Both of these documents are issued free of charge. A death certificate can also be purchased from the Registrar.

Contact