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Registering a death is the responsibility of the Registrar.
Deaths have to be registered in the district in which the event took place. This can be done in person at the local Register Office, or by declaration in any other Register Office. The latter will involve a delay, as documents will have to be posted to the Register Office where the event occurred.
People wishing to register a death on the Isles of Scilly should contact the Registrar, Alison Gardner, at the Isles of Scilly Register Office (01720) 424321, in the first instance, in order to make an appointment. If the office is closed then please contact the Town Hall reception desk on (01720) 424003/422537 for further contact information.
There is no cost in registering a Death, but a charge of £3.50 per certificate is made.
Who can register a death?
It is preferred that a relative of the deceased registers the death. If there are no relatives then it is possible for other persons to register it. Such persons may be someone present at the death, a senior administrator of the establishment in which the death occurred, or the person instructing the funeral director.
Documentation:
You will need to bring with you the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death which will be issued to you by the doctor of the deceased.
Other additional documents needed that may help you during the registration would be the deceased's birth, marriage or civil partnership certificate, as appropriate, and their medical card. If the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds, in addition to their regular state pension, that pension reference number.
Coroner
In certain circumstances the death will have to be referred to the Coroner by the doctor or the Registrar. The Coroner may do one of three things:
- The Coroner may decide that no action is necessary and inform the Registrar accordingly. The Registrar can register the death once the Coroner has faxed the necessary paperwork through, or it has been received in the post.
- The Coroner may decide to hold a post-mortem examination, in which case a Form 100 will be issued by the Coroner to be used instead of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This is usually sent to the Registrar directly from the Coroner's Office.
- The Coroner may decide to hold an inquest. The Coroner's Office or the Registrar will advise you what to do in these circumstances.
Information needed:
- The date and place of death.
- The full name of the deceased including maiden name where appropriate.
- The date and place of birth of the deceased.
- The deceased's occupation and the full names and occupation of their spouse if they were married or widowed or of their Civil Partner or surviving Civil Partner.
- The deceased's usual address.
- Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds.
- If the deceased was married or in a Civil Partnership, the date of birth of the surviving spouse or Civil Partner.
- Either the National Health Service number of the deceased if known, or the medical card itself, if available, should be handed to the Registrar. However, if neither of these are available please do not delay the registration.
Certificates and Forms issued:
After the death has been registered, the Registrar will issue you with some forms:
- A Certificate for Burial or Cremation: This is also known as the Green Form or Form 9 and must be handed to the funeral director so that the funeral can take place. In some circumstances this will be issued by the Coroner.
- A Certificate of Registration of Death: This is a Form BD8/344 for Social Security purposes. Please read the back of the form , then complete and return to your local Social Security Office.
- Standard Death Certificate: A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. These may be required by banks, building societies, solicitors, pension and insurance claims. You can have many copies as you require at a cost of £3.50 per certificate.
The Register Office hours of opening are Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 to 10.30 a.m. or email registration@scilly.gov.uk.
The Register Office telephone number is (01720) 424321. This is only manned when the office is open but there is an answer phone at all other times.
All enquiries on other matters should be referred to Sarah Handy, Superintendent Registrar at the Register Office. If the office is closed please ring the Town Hall reception desk on (01720) 424003/422537 for further contact information.
Further general information on how to go about registering a death can be found on the General Register Office Opens in a new windowwebsite.
