Register the death
After someone dies, a medical examiner will check the cause of death to make sure it’s accurate.
They will be a senior doctor and they will not have been involved in the care of the person who has died.
The medical examiner’s office will then contact you to:
- explain the cause of death
- answer any questions you have about this or the healthcare provided to the person before they died
This is voluntary and you do not have to speak to them.
Registering the death
You’ll also be contacted by the medical examiner’s office to confirm you can register the death.
Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland) of being contacted. This includes weekends and bank holidays.
After you’ve registered the death
You’ll get a certificate for burial or cremation (often called ‘the green form’).
Give the certificate to your funeral director, crematorium or burial authority. You must do this before the funeral can take place.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).