Register a death

Overview

All deaths must be registered within 5 days unless the death has been referred to the coroner.

If the death has been referred to the coroner, they will inform you when you are able to make an appointment to register the death.

If the death occurred in South Tyneside, you can register it at South Shields Register Office.

To make an appointment, call 0191 427 7000.

For information on opening times, see South Shields Register Office

How it works

To make an appointment please call the register office on 0191 427 7000.

Before you make an appointment, please email a copy of your medical certificate showing the cause of death (MCCD) to the register office.

The certificate is issued by a doctor.

The registration cannot be complete without this document.

We ask that you attend the Register Office promptly for your appointment. Please note that there are limited waiting facilities.

After the registration is complete, the Registrar will:

  • issue the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (which is known as the Green Form) and email it directly to the Funeral Director
  • register you for the service and give you a reference number, allowing you to inform multiple local and central government departments of the death in one go

Death certificates

You will be issued one death certificate. Death certificates cost £11.

You can purchase more copies at £11 each.

You will need certificates so that you can deal with the will, money and property of the person who's died.

What the Registrar needs to know

During your appointment, the Registrar will ask you to provide the following information. 

Please make sure you have all of this information to hand before your appointment:

  • Date and place of death
    This will be the name of the hospital / nursing home, or the full address, including the postal address. If the death took place in an ambulance, car, or other vehicle, you need to provide information about the location of the vehicle when the death occurred or the intended destination.
  • Date and place of birth
    Please provide approximate dates if the exact date is not known. Please provide the town and county / London borough or the country of birth if you were born outside of the UK.
  • Full name of the deceased
    Please provide the name they were known as at the time of their death. You should also note if they were known by any other name.
  • Maiden name
    Please provide this if they were a woman who was married or in a civil partnership.
  • Occupation
    Provide as much information about their job title of their most recent occupation. Please also tell us whether the deceased was retired at the time of their death.
  • Marital status
    This will be the marital status of the deceased at the time of their death. The statuses are:
    • Single (never married or in a civil partnership)
    • Divorced
    • Husband or Wife
    • Widow or Widower
    • Civil Partner or Surviving Civil Partner
  • Spouse or civil partner's full name and occupation
    Provide as much information about their job title of their most recent occupation. Please also tell us whether the deceased was retired at the time of their death.
     
  • Address
    This should include the name or number of the house, name of the street and village or town.
  • Sex
    Please specify male or female.

How much it costs

For certificate costs, see Register Office fees.

Tell us once

Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go.


How to use Tell Us Once

The registrar will explain the Tell Us Once service when you register the death.

They will give you a unique reference number so you can use the service yourself online or by phone.

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Further information

For more information, including the details you will need and the organisations we will notify, see .