Losing someone close brings a weight that settles differently on everyone. Amid the grief, there’s paperwork to handle—forms with official names, deadlines that arrive too quickly, and questions about what comes next. Understanding which documents you need can remove at least one layer of uncertainty during an already difficult time.
This guide walks you through the essential paperwork required to arrange a funeral in the UK, from the first medical certificate to the final authorisations needed for burial or cremation.
1. The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death: Where Everything Begins
Before any funeral arrangements can proceed formally, a doctor must issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This document records the person’s name and the medical cause of their death.
The attending doctor issues this certificate and sends it electronically to the local registrar. Since 2024, all deaths in England and Wales require review by a Medical Examiner—an independent senior doctor who ensures accuracy in death certification. If you need the funeral to proceed quickly for religious or cultural reasons, inform the hospital or GP practice immediately.
2. Registering the Death: Legal Requirements and Timelines
Death registration is a legal requirement in the UK, and the timeframes are strict:
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you must register the death within five days. In Scotland, you have eight days. These periods include weekends and bank holidays, though an extension of up to nine days is possible with written confirmation from the doctor who issued the medical certificate.
Who Can Register a Death?
A relative, someone present at the death, or the person arranging the funeral can register the death. This typically includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, civil partners, or legal guardians. If no family members are available, facility administrators or those acting on behalf of the family may register.
Funeral directors cannot register deaths themselves, but we guide families through the process and can advise on any complications.
What Information You’ll Need
When you attend the register office, bring the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. The registrar will also ask for specific details about the deceased:
- Full name and surname
- Date and place of birth
- Last known address
- Occupation (including if retired)
- Marital status and spouse’s details (if applicable)
- National Insurance number (if available)
While helpful documents include the deceased’s birth certificate, NHS card, passport, marriage certificate, and proof of address, you can still register without these if unavailable. Don’t delay your appointment if you can’t locate these items—the registrar can work with limited information.
Where to Register
You can register a death at any register office in the UK, but choosing one in the district where the death occurred will speed up the process considerably. Local offices have immediate access to the required paperwork sent by the Medical Examiner. Using a register office further away may cause delays in receiving your certificates.
The registration appointment typically takes around 30 minutes.
3. Documents Issued After Registration
Once registration is complete, the registrar provides several documents—some free, others requiring payment.
Certificate for Burial or Cremation (The Green Form)
This certificate, commonly called the green form, gives permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made. You’ll give this to your funeral director, who passes it to the cemetery or crematorium.
If a coroner is involved and an inquest is required, the coroner issues an Order for Burial (Form 101) instead of the standard green form. For urgent burials required by faith or cultural customs, it’s sometimes possible to obtain a green form from the registrar before full registration, provided the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued.
Death Certificates
Death certificates—officially called Certified Copies of an Entry of Death—are the only documents you’ll pay for during registration. Registration itself is free, but death certificates cost £12.50 each.
Order multiple copies at registration. You’ll need separate original certificates (not photocopies) for each organisation you deal with, including:
- Banks and building societies
- Insurance companies
- Pension providers
- The executor or administrator managing the estate
- Mortgage lenders
- Vehicle licensing authorities
Most organisations return certificates after verification, but purchasing several copies initially prevents delays later. Additional copies ordered after registration cost the same but require separate applications and delivery charges.
Certificate of Registration of Death (Form BD8)
If the deceased was receiving a state pension or benefits, the registrar may provide a Certificate for Registration of Death (form BD8), which you should fill in and return to notify the Department for Work and Pensions. The form comes with a pre-paid envelope.
Alternatively, you can use the Tell Us Once service in England, Scotland, and Wales to notify multiple government departments simultaneously, including those handling pensions, benefits, and tax.
4. Additional Documentation for Cremations
Cremations require more extensive paperwork than burials, primarily to provide additional safeguards.
Cremation Application Forms
Your funeral director will assist you with the cremation application form, which includes details about the service and your preferences for the ceremony. The crematorium also provides its own form asking for instructions about what should happen to the ashes afterwards.
Medical Forms for Cremation
Cremation 4 is usually completed by the doctor who completed the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Cremation 5 is completed by an experienced doctor who was not involved in caring for the person who died. These forms are typically requested and collected by your funeral director on your behalf.
There are fees for these medical forms, which appear as disbursements in your funeral invoice. The funeral director handles payment and delivery to the crematorium.
Since 2009, families have the right to inspect the Cremation 4 and 5 forms completed by medical staff. Your funeral director will inform you of this right. If you wish to review these forms, make an appointment with the crematorium office—you’ll have 48 hours once they’ve arrived. Consider this timeframe when setting the funeral date.
Final Cremation Authorisation
Before cremation proceeds, a medical referee appointed by the crematorium completes Cremation Form 10, which grants final authorisation. This step ensures all paperwork is in order and legal requirements are met. Families are not involved in this process, and the fee is typically covered in the cremation costs.
If a coroner has conducted a post-mortem examination, they issue a Cremation 6 certificate instead of the standard medical forms.
What About Wills and Financial Matters?
The death certificate is essential for managing the deceased’s estate. Executors and administrators need it to access bank accounts, cancel subscriptions, claim life insurance, transfer property ownership, and handle investments.
If the estate enters probate, multiple original death certificates become even more important, as many financial institutions won’t accept photocopies.
The Will itself isn’t needed to register the death or arrange the funeral, but locating it early helps executors understand any wishes the deceased expressed about their funeral arrangements.
Common Questions About Funeral Documentation
Can preliminary arrangements begin before registration?
Yes. While you can’t confirm a funeral date until registration is complete, you can contact a funeral director, discuss service options, consider burial versus cremation, and begin planning the ceremony structure.
What if someone dies without identification documents?
The registrar can still proceed with death registration even if you don’t have the deceased’s birth certificate, passport, or other documents. Provide as much information as you can from memory or family records. Don’t delay registration because you can’t locate paperwork.
Who keeps the original documents?
The Certificate for Burial or Cremation goes to your funeral director, who provides it to the cemetery or crematorium. You retain the death certificates, though organisations may temporarily hold them for verification before returning them.
What happens if there are delays in registration?
Delays can postpone the funeral and create complications with estate administration. If you encounter problems with registration, contact the local register office immediately for guidance. Your funeral director can also advocate on your behalf if necessary.
Are there penalties for late registration?
While there are no immediate financial penalties for registering slightly late, prolonged failure to register a death may lead to legal consequences. The law requires registration within the specified timeframes, and compliance is taken seriously.
How long does it take to get documents after registration?
You receive the Certificate for Burial or Cremation and death certificates immediately after the registration appointment, which typically takes 30 minutes. Processing times can vary based on the register office’s workload, but delays beyond the appointment itself are uncommon.
We’re Here to Help You Move Forward
Whether you’re just beginning to understand what needs to happen next or you’re already partway through the process and feeling stuck, we at Gooding Funeral Services, are available 24/7 to provide guidance.
The documents are necessary, but they’re also just the beginning. The funeral itself—the gathering, the words spoken, the final goodbye—matters far more than any form. Let us handle the paperwork so you can create a meaningful farewell.
Call us anytime on 0113 210 7998, or reach out via WhatsApp or email. We’re ready to support you through every step.
Read more from our guide on funeral services in the UK.
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