Correct a death registration
How to apply
It costs £75 or £90 to apply to correct a mistake in a death registration.
Contact the register office where the death was registered to find out how to send your application, the cost, and how to pay.
Fill in the application form to correct details on a death registration and send it to the register office.
Proving the registration is wrong
You’ll need to show that the information given at the time of the registration was wrong. You must send in documents with your application that show what the correct information should have been. These documents should be valid or dated around the time of the death.
Documents you can send in include a:
- passport
- photocard driving licence
- bank, building society or credit card statement
- letter from a hospital or doctor
- letter from a government department
- utility bill
If you cannot send in proof, corrections cannot usually be made.
All certified copies sent with the application will be destroyed if you do not ask for them to be returned.
Sending in certified documents
You should only send in documents that have been certified as true copies of the original.
Statutory declaration
If you’re applying to correct a serious mistake (for example in the name of a person), the GRO may ask you to make a ‘statutory declaration’. GRO will give you more advice about this if it is necessary.
You may have to pay a fee for a statutory declaration.
How long applications take
There is not a set time for how long applications will take. It can take up to 25 days for you to get a reply.
Advice
If you want further advice on applying to make a correction, contact the register office or the General Register Office (GRO).
GRO
grocasework@gro.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 1837
Textphone: 18001 0300 123 1837
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges