Registering a death
I need to register a death - what should I do?
When you have suffered a bereavement, it is very difficult to know what to do first. The following information is designed to assist you in registering the death and to answer your immediate questions. Please telephone the office on the number below if you wish to, and our experienced staff will do all they can to help you at this time.
Death Registrations at Merthyr Tydfil Register Office are being processed in a two-stage process. The first part is a telephone call between the informant and one of our registrars, where the particulars required for the appointment will be explained to you. During this call you will schedule a mutually convenient appointment at our office to process the second stage of the appointment. You will have every opportunity to raise any queries with the registrar at your appointment. The Death Certificates cost £12.50 each and payment will be by card or cash. If paying by card you will need your physical card, if paying cash we would need the correct amount. The Paperwork required by your Funeral Director will be emailed to them direct, following your appointment.
Please note we are unable to allocate appointments or begin the registration process until we are in receipt of all the required medical paperwork. However, should you have any queries we can assist with or if you wish to simply provide us with your contact details in readiness, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 01685 727333.
Who is able to register a death?
Usually, a relative of the deceased will register the death. If this is not possible, there are other people who may qualify to register. Contact the Register Office for further information.
Where can I register the death?
The death must be registered within the district it occurred. However if you are unable to visit the Register Office in that district, please contact us to discuss further.
When must I register the death?
Every death should legally be registered within five days of the registration service receiving the paperwork.
What questions will I be asked by the Registrar?
The Registrar will need to know the following information:
the date and place of death
the deceased's last (usual) address
the deceased's full name(s) and surname (and the maiden surname)
the deceased's date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK, and country if born abroad)
the deceased's occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse, and of previous spouse(s) as appropriate
whether the deceased was receiving a pension or allowance from public funds
if the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower
other statistical information
What documents will I need to produce?
The following documents will be required by the Registrar:
A Medical certificate of the cause of death (issued by the doctor who certified the death) - this will be emailed to us direct by the Medical Examiner Service, please do not make arrangements to collect the same, we are accepting them by email only. Should there be any extenuating circumstances then please do not hesitate to call us to discuss, we will do all we can to assist.
it is also useful if you have the deceased's birth and, if applicable, their marriage certificate(s) to hand; although these documents are not essential, provided you are able to supply the correct information
if the death has been referred to the Coroner, the Coroner may issue another certificate direct to the Register office. The Registrar will need this certificate before the death can be registered. In cases where the death has been referred to the Coroner, it is always advisable to contact the Register office before attending any appointment you may have made
Supporting documents relating to the deceased would help with the registration (birth certificate, passport, marriage/civil partnership certificate, proof of address)
Not being able to provide these documents will not prevent you from registering the death. However, it would be helpful to provide them wherever possible so that we can make sure our records are accurate.
What documents will the Registrar give me?
The Registrar will give you the following documents free of charge:
Access to the Tell Us Once service
What about Death Certificates?
Registration of the death is free but if you require a copy of the death certificates the following fees are charged:
£12.50 for a death certificate
You may need a death certificate for the Will and for any pension claims, insurance policies, bank accounts and premium bonds. It is easier to purchase these copies at the time you visit the Registrar but they will be available if further copies are required at a later date.
Appointments
An appointment system is used to assist you at this distressing time and be assured that our staff will make every effort to ensure your visit here is as simple and straightforward as possible.
Tell Us Once
When someone has died, the Registrars can help tell the people who need to know about the death. "Tell Us Once" is a service which the Registrars can offer the family following the registration of the death, and they will then notify the Council and central Government departments, on the family's behalf. We do the first part for you, generating an access code for you to complete the Tell us Once enrichment conveniently upon your return home, should you wish to use the service.