A death must be registered within the district it occurs and, by law, must be registered within 5 days.
Who can register a death?
The following persons have a legal obligation to register a death; they are listed in order of preference:
- A close relative of the deceased
- A person present at the death
- A person arranging the funeral (NOT a Funeral Director but the person instructing them)
In certain circumstances other people may be allowed to register a death. Please contact a Registrar for advice on 01472 324861.
What information is needed to register?
The following information is required:
- Full name and surname of the deceased.
- Date and place of birth.
- Occupation (even if retired.)
- Usual address.
- If the deceased was married / widowed / civil partner; the full name and occupation of the husband / wife / civil partner.
- If the deceased was married or leaves a surviving civil partner, the date of birth of that person.
You will need to bring a 'Medical Certificate of Cause of Death'; the Doctor who has been in medical attendance will issue this. If the death has been referred to HM Coroner, the Coroner's Officer will advise you what to do. If you are unsure, contact a Registrar on the above number.
If you are able to locate the deceased's Medical Card, please bring that with you when you attend at the Register Office. If you can not find it, don't delay registering and please, do not worry, the Registrar will be able to continue the registration without the Medical Card.
It can be helpful to bring Birth and Marriage Certificates relating to the deceased with you but it is not essential.
If the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds e.g.: Civil Service or HM Forces please bring details with you and tell the Registrar.
What certificates will I be issued with?
The Registrar will issue the following certificates, free of charge:
- A certificate of Burial or Cremation - this is a green form that you should pass to the Funeral Director.
- A certificate of Registration of Death - this is a white form for social security (Benefits Agency) purposes, usually referred to as a BD8.
The following certificate is not issued free of charge:
- 'Certified copies of a Death Entry' are available from the Registrar and are generally referred to as 'death certificates'. There is a fee charged for each certificate.
If you purchase 'Death Certificates' at the time you register, you will pay £4.00 for each certificate. These certificates may be required for banks, insurance companies, occupational pension schemes, Premium Bonds etc. It's a good idea to consider how many certificates you may require before you attend to register the death. You can obtain further certificates after the registration but the fee for each certificate will be £7.00. This fee will remain the same for one month after the date of the registration. After a month has passed, the Register will be archived and further certificates will then cost £10.00 each.
Where and when you can register a death
The Register Office, Cleethorpes Town Hall, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, DN35 8LN
Mondays - 9.00 am through to 6.00 pm - by appointment only.
Tuesday to Friday - 9.00 am to 4.00 pm - by appointment only.
Appointments to register Deaths may be made by telephoning - 01472 324861. Please note if the Registrars are busy or currently on the telephone you will be given the opportunity to leave a message and a Registrar will return your call at the earliest opportunity.
What if the death occurred outside of North East Lincolnshire?
You may make an appointment to attend at the above office but the Registrar will not be able to issue you with any certificates as the death needs to be registered by the Registrar in the district where it occurred. This will mean that the funeral cannot take place until the Registrar (for the district where the death occurred) has issued the certificates.
The Registrar for North East Lincolnshire can take all the particulars about the deceased and will arrange for these to be forwarded to the correct Registrar.
Still have a query?
If you are still unsure as to what to do, please do not hesitate to telephone the Register Office on 01472 324861 and speak to a Registrar who will be able to assist you at this difficult time.
Have you considered contacting Cruse Bereavement Care? As a registered Charity, they may be able to help you cope with your grief. The local branches are:
Grimsby - Telephone: 01472 353635
Louth - Telephone: 01507 609900