Please note we are no longer based at Shakespeare Street, but at the Council House in the Old Market Square.

Tell Us Once

When you register a death you can also register for the Tell Us Once service. This notifies various government departments about the change in circumstances. Click here for more information.

• Where to register a death which occurred within the City of Nottingham
• When must a death be registered
• Who is qualified to register a death (The 'Informant')
• What documents does an Informant need to bring when registering a Death
• Information which will be needed by the Registrar
• Additional information that must be given to the Registrar
• Checking the information
• Documents which will be supplied following the registration
• Giving details by "declaration" when the death occurred elsewhere
• Queries

You can book an appointment to register a death by clicking here to visit the Death Registration Appointments online service or by phone on 0115 841 5554.

Where to register a death which occurred within the City of Nottingham

Every death must be registered in the Register Office for the District in which it occurred. Click here for details of where the Register Office for all deaths is within the city boundary of Nottingham.

When must a death be registered

A death normally needs to be registered within five days, unless the Coroner is investigating the circumstances relating to the death (an Inquest). The five day period may be extended in certain circumstances.

Who is qualified to register a death (The 'Informant')

The death must be registered by an Informant who has the legal authority and responsibility to do so. This includes:

• A relative
• A person present at the death
• The occupier of the premises where the death occurred if he/she knew of it happening
• The person arranging the funeral (this does NOT mean the funeral director, it means the relative, friend or legal representative who is instructing the funeral director)

What documents does an Informant need to bring when registering a Death

A medical certificate of cause of death will be issued by the doctor who was treating the person who has died. This will normally be handed to you in a sealed brown envelope addressed to the Registrar at the relevant Register Office. You must take this to the Registrar.

In some instances, for example when the death is unexpected and/or the doctor cannot be sure of the cause of death, the Coroner may decide to hold a post mortem to determine the cause of death. You will be informed of this, and the Coroner's Office (rather than the doctor) will issue a certificate and tell you when you will be able to register the death.

The deceased person's birth certificate and medical card, if available, should be taken to the registration.

Information which will be needed by the Registrar

The Registrar will interview you in private and will need to know the following information for recording in the Register:

• The date and place of death
• The full name and surname, maiden surname if the person who has died had been a married woman, and any previous names used
• Their date and place of birth
• The occupation and, if the deceased person was a married woman or widow the full name and occupation of her husband
• Their usual address
• Whether the person who has died was in receipt of a pension from public funds.
• Your name and address and relationship to the deceased

Additional information that must be given to the Registrar

Additional details will also be collected by the Registrar. These are not recorded in the Register and will only be used for the preparation and supply of statistical information by the Registrar General:

• The marital status of the deceased
• If the person who has died was married or in a Civil Partnership, the date of birth of the surviving spouse

Checking the information

The Registrar will take down all the details in draft form and will ask you to check that they have been recorded correctly. The non-statistical information will then be copied into the Register book, which you will be asked to check through carefully and sign.

Documents which will be supplied following the registration

On completion of the registration, you will be issued with:

• A 'Green Form' which enables you to arrange the funeral (If the Coroner is involved different procedures may apply). This is issued free of charge.
• A form for Social Security purposes. This is also issued free of charge.
• Certified copies of the entry ("death certificates") may also be purchased at the time of registration at a cost of £4 each
• A card for you to complete if you wish the deceased's details to be removed from mailing lists

Giving details by "declaration" when the death occurred elsewhere

It is possible to make a declaration of the required particulars before any Registrar in England and Wales if (i) you live in e.g. Nottingham and the death you are required to register occurred elsewhere, or (ii) you live elsewhere and the death needs to be registered in e.g. Nottingham.

You must be prepared to answer exactly the same questions as those outlined above but the details will be transferred on to a 'Declaration' instead of being written into a Register. You will be asked to check and to sign the Declaration which is then posted to the Register Office responsible for the area where the death took place. That Register Office will then post to you the documents you need. If you choose to use this method you will therefore not have possession of the documents you need as quickly as if you attend in person at the relevant Register Office and this may delay arrangements for the funeral.

Queries

If you have any further queries regarding registering a death, please do not hesitate to contact Nottingham Register Office on 0115 841 5554. Should you need to contact us in an emergency there is a Registrar on call every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday between 10-12 who can be contacted by telephoning 0789 906 0396.