Register a death

How do I register a death?

A death must be registered in the district where it occurred.

Contact the Register Office to make an appointment to register a death:

• 01642 527720
• registrars@stockton.gov.uk

Visit our Register Office location and opening times page for more details.

We will issue the certificate for burial or cremation (unless the Coroner has already issued one) and death certificates. There are two types of death certificates available, a full certificate and a short certificate. A full certificate shows all the information that is recorded in the register. The short certificate does not show the cause of death, the sex of the deceased and the information of the person that has registered the death. Please note that some organisations may require a full certificate for their purposes. Both full and short certificates cost £12.50 each.

What information will I need for my appointment?

You will need to provide:

• full name of the deceased and maiden name if relevant and any other names used
• date and place of death
• occupation (even if retired)
• the name and occupation of spouse or civil partner
• date of birth of a surviving husband, wife or civil partner
• the usual address
• the medical card (if available)

To help ensure the information we record is accurate, bring supporting documentation with you such as a passport, driving license, utility bill, birth and marriage certificates. Do not worry if any of these documents are not available as the registrar can still register the death.

The medical certificate will be sent electronically direct to the register office from the Medical Examiner.

Who can register a death?

You can register a death if:

• you are a relative of the deceased through blood or marriage
• you are the partner of the deceased
• you were present at the death
• you are the personal representative of the deceased
• you are a senior member of staff at the nursing home or hospital where the death happened and no relatives are available
• you are the person who is making the funeral arrangements

Register a death by declaration

If you cannot register a death at Stockton Register Office, you can attend any other register office in England or Wales and provide the Registrar with the necessary details. This is called registering a death by declaration.

The local registrar will contact Stockton Borough registrars regarding the medical certificate issued by the medical examiner's office (if the Coroner is involved, it will be the Coroner's Certificate). 

After your death by declaration appointment, we will send you a form to allow burial or cremation (if the Coroner is involved, this may be sent directly to your funeral director) and a death certificate which is a full copy of the entry in the register and costs £12.50 per certificate.

It will take a day or two longer to register by declaration because the documents will be sent by post. This should be taken into account when making funeral arrangements.

Register a stillbirth

If your baby was stillborn, you have 42 days to register your baby's details.

If the baby's natural parents were married to each other at the time of the birth, then either of you can register your baby.

If the baby's mother and natural father are not married, the father must be present at the registration if his details are to be shown in the stillbirth register.

The stillbirth medical certificate will be sent electronically direct to the register office by the doctor or midwife.

'Tell Us Once' service

When you register a death we can help you tell the people who need to know with the 'Tell Us Once' service.

If you decide to use this service, we will tell:

• Adult Services
• Blue Badges
• OneCall and Telecare Services       
• Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit plus Working Tax Credits
• Children's Services
• Collection of payment for council services
• Council Tax       
• Department for Work and Pensions
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency       
• Electoral services
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)            
• Housing Benefit Office
• Identity and Passport Service     
• Jobcentre Plus
• Libraries            
• Ministry of Defence, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
• Overseas Health Team  
• Pension, Disability and Carers Service
• Personal Taxation          
• Public Sector Pensions and Armed Forces Pension Schemes
• Universal Credit
• War Pensions Scheme

To make sure the right information is given to any organisations we contact for you, bring along with you all the following information which is applicable to the person who has died:

• date of birth
• National Insurance number and date of birth
• details of any benefits or services they were receiving
• death certificate
• driving licence or driving licence number
• passport or passport number and town and country of birth
• Blue badge
• bus pass
• National Insurance number or date of birth of their spouse

If you are the next of kin (the closest relative by blood or marriage to the deceased) your entitlement to benefits may change. You should have your own National Insurance number or date of birth with you when you contact us.

Visit the GOV.UK website for more information on the 'Tell Us Once' service.

Baby loss certificates

For any parent who has experienced the devastation of losing a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy (28 weeks prior to 1 October 1992) can now apply for a commemorative certificate in memory of their child.

This certificate is not a legal document, however, it can take a small part of having their loss and your grief recognised.

For more information or to apply for a baby loss certificate visit the GOV.UK website.

Please note, that if your pregnancy ends from 24 weeks onwards, you will need to register a stillbirth and a certificate will be issued to you.

Disclaimer 

Personal information collected from you to register a death or stillbirth is required by law.

Further information on data held by the registration service and a full list of the organisations with the registration data is shared with and the purpose and the lawful basis for sharing the data can be found on our privacy notices page.

For further help regarding your personal information contact officers at the Register Office on 01642 527720.