Registration of a Death
When to Register
Deaths should be registered within 5 days unless a coroner is
conducting an investigation into the circumstances. The Coroner (England
& Wales) has a duty to investigate all sudden and unexplained deaths,
as well as deaths in suspicious circumstances. Deaths are usually reported
to the Coroner by the police, a doctor or the Registrar of Births, Deaths
and Marriages.
Where to Register
If the death occurred in the Sunderland Registration District, you
will be able to register the death at the Register Office in Sunderland
Civic Centre, Washington Town Centre Library, Houghton Library or the
Hetton Centre.
However, if it is difficult for you to attend one of these offices,
the death can be registered by declaration at any register office in
England or Wales. The registrar there will then forward the information to
us.
Please note: If the death occurred in the Sunderland Registration
District and you choose to register by declaration with a registrar in
another district, they will be unable to issue you with the certificate
for the funeral director or any death certificates. We will post these to
you once we have received the details. This may cause delays
for you in organising the funeral.
Before the registrar can take any information from you, they will
need to see a medical certificate of cause of death issued by the
doctor, or by a coroner if there has been a post mortem. If there are any
problems, the registrar may not be able to take the information straight away. If
you wish to order death certificates you will need to pay for these
by cheque or postal order made payable to: "Registrar". The
current fee for a certificate is £3.50.
Before you decide whether to go to a register office outside the area where the death
took place it would be a good idea to tell the following people:
- The funeral director who is arranging the burial or cremation.
- The registrar for the district where the death took place, who
will have to register the death.
Appointments
Sunderland Register Office operates an appointment system. To make an
appointment you should contact us on 0191 520 5509. For your convenience
we also offer a limited appointment system at The Galleries Health Centre, Washington; Houghton
Library or the Hetton Centre.
Please note you will not be able to register the death unless;
- the doctor's medical certificate of cause of
death has been issued and is in your possession, or,
- in the case of a
coroner's certificate, the register office has been advised that this has
been issued
If you would like to register by declaration at another register office, check with
the office concerned to see if they use an appointment system.
Who may register a death?
People who can legally register a death include, in order of
preference:
- A relative present at the death.
- A relative in attendance during the last illness.
- A relative living in the registration district.
- A person present at the death.
- The occupier of the premises, if he/she knew of the happening of the death.
- The person arranging the funeral (not the undertaker).
Others may be qualified in specific circumstances. Consult a registrar
for details.
Information needed to register
You will be asked for the following information:
- The date and place of death.
- The full names and surname of the person who has died.
- Any maiden surname, if applicable.
- The date and place of their birth
- Their occupation and address
- If the person who has died was married or widowed, or a civil
partner or surviving civil partner, the name and occupation of their
spouse or civil partner
- Your name and address.
- If the person who has died was still married or in a civil
partnership, the date of birth of their spouse or civil partner.
The NHS Medical Card for the person who has died should be given to the
registrar, if possible. If you have the deceased's birth certificate
and marriage certificate, they will be helpful but are not essential.
Corrections to a Death entry
Corrections may be
necessary if a mistake was made on the original registration.
Bereavement -
Sunderland Counselling Service
Princess of Wales Centre, Old Havelock Hospital, Hylton Road, Sunderland
SR4 8AE
The Centre offers counselling and support to people who have experienced
bereavement or loss. Specially trained counsellors can provide individual
counselling as well as group support. Tel: 0191 514 7007
The Centre also offers a complementary therapy service for people living
with cancer and/or their carers. Tel: 0191 564 0746
For more information or enquiries please contact registrars@sunderland.gov.uk
or telephone 0191 520 5509
There are also other services to help you in dealing
with a death.
You may also find the following links to other websites
useful:
 UK
Births, Marriages, Deaths and Censuses
General
Register Office
Family
Records
|
