How to Register a Death in Leicester & Leicestershire

I’m so sorry if you’re reading this because someone close to you has died. This guide explains the practical steps for registering a death locally, so you know what to expect. Your funeral director and the registration office staff will also guide you — you don’t have to know it all in advance.

First: the medical certificate and the medical examiner

Before a death can be registered, a doctor completes a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, and an independent senior doctor called a medical examiner reviews it. The medical examiner’s office may contact you to explain the cause of death and answer any questions. In Leicester, the certificate is then sent directly to the registrar — you don’t need to collect it.

If a death is sudden, unexpected or the cause is unclear, it may be referred to the coroner. In that case the coroner’s office will explain what happens next, and registration may take longer.

The time limit

In England, a death should be registered within 5 days of the medical examiner confirming you can register (this includes weekends and bank holidays). If you can’t meet that, tell the register office — they understand that circumstances vary.

Where to register

Deaths are registered in the district where the person died, which isn’t always where they lived:

• Deaths within Leicester city are registered with Leicester City Council, with appointments at Leicester Town Hall. The city says its registrar will contact the person dealing with the death to arrange the appointment. Contact: 0116 454 1000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm), [email protected].
• Deaths elsewhere in Leicestershire are registered with Leicestershire County Council’s registration service, which has seven offices across the county. Contact: 0116 305 6565.

Rutland has its own registration service run by Rutland County Council.

Who can register a death?

Usually a relative. If there are no relatives available, someone else who was present at the death, or the person arranging the funeral, may be able to register. The registrar will advise if you’re unsure.

What to bring and what you’ll be asked

The appointment takes around 30 minutes. It helps to bring the person’s passport, driving licence or birth certificate, and their marriage or civil partnership certificate if they had one, plus their NHS number or medical card if you have it. You’ll be asked for:

• their full name, and any previous names (including maiden name), spelled exactly
• their date and place of birth
• their last address
• their occupation (or last occupation)
• the name, occupation and date of birth of their spouse or civil partner, if they had one

You’ll be asked to check the entry carefully before it’s signed. Leicestershire warns that corrections afterwards cost £99 and can take up to a month, which can delay funeral plans — so take your time.

What you’ll get

• The “green form” — a certificate for burial or cremation, which goes to your funeral director so the funeral can go ahead. In Leicestershire, the registration service sends it to your funeral director for you.
• Death certificates — registering is free, but certified copies cost £12.50 each in both Leicester and Leicestershire (paid by card). Banks, pension providers and solicitors often want an original, so it’s worth getting several.
• A Tell Us Once reference — a government service that lets you notify HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Passport Office and local council services in one go, rather than contacting each separately.

After registering: planning the funeral

Once the death is registered and the green form is with your funeral director, you can confirm the funeral date. If you’d like a personal, celebrant-led funeral or celebration of life, your funeral director can contact a celebrant for you, or you can contact one directly. Our guides on local crematoria and planning a celebration of life may help.