It's not something we like to think about, but with death comes a lot of admin.

For a grieving family, arranging a funeral and registering a death is really the last thing on their mind, but the burden falls with them to put their loved one's final affairs in order.

Registering a death can be a complicated process, but we've put together a guide for those that need it.

General requirements

There are several legal requirements when registering a death.

A death must be registered within five working days and it must be registered at the district office closest to where the death occured.

If you cannot get there, you can register the death 'by declaration' at any register office in England and Wales. This means that the details you give to the registrar will be sent to the correct district to be registered.

You should always collect a death certificate from the doctor's surgery or hospital before registering the death.

In some circumstances, a death will have to be reported to the coroner. This may happen if a person dies suspiciously or a cause of death needs to be ascertained.

Upon arriving at your appointment with the registrar, they will check the death certificate and several details, according to Somerset County Council. These details include:

  • Date and place of death
  • Name, surname and maiden name (if applicable) of the deceased
  • The deceased's date and place of birth
  • Their National insurance number
  • Last occupation of the deceased
  • The usual address of the deceased
  • Their driving licence or driving licence number (if they held one)
  • Their passport (if they had one)
  • Whether the deceased received any pension or benefits from public funds
  • Name and last occupation of the deceased's spouse (if married or widowed)
  • If the deceased was still married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse.

You may also be asked information about next of kin and who is dealing with the deceased's estate.

The registrar will give you a form authorising the burial or cremation following the appointment, unless the coroner has already done this.

If the death occurred in a house, hospital or care home and there are no relatives available to do the registration, the registrar would normally allow one of the following people to register (in order of preference).

You must attain a death certificate before registering a death
You must attain a death certificate before registering a death
  • Someone present at the death
  • An occupant of the house or official from the hospital where the death occurred.
  • The person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.

If the death occurred somewhere else and there are no relatives available to do the registration, the registrar would normally accept one of the following people to register. 

  • Someone present at the death
  • The person who found the body
  • The person in charge of the body
  • The person making the arrangements with the funeral directors

Booking an appointment

Somerset

You can book an appointment with a Somerset registrar via the Somerset County Council website .

You can book an appointment at any of the following registration offices:

  • Taunton
  • Bridgwater
  • Burnham-on-Sea
  • Chard
  • Frome
  • Minehead
  • Shepton Mallet
  • Glastonbury
  • Williton
  • South Somerset (Yeovil)

All of these offices can be reached by calling 01823 282251.

Wiltshire

Appointments for registering a death in Wiltshire can be made by clicking here .

Registration offices are located in:

  • Chippenham
  • Salisbury
  • Trowbirdge
  • Corsham
  • Malmesbury
  • Royal Wootton Bassett
  • Calne
  • Marlborough
  • Devizes
  • Melksham
  • Mere
  • Warminster
  • Westbury
  • Tidworth

Call 0300 003 4569 to book a registration appointment.

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Dorset

To book a registration in Dorset, call 01305 225153. Offices can be found in:

  • Blandford Forum
  • Bridport
  • Dorchester
  • Ferndown
  • Gillingham
  • Sherborne
  • Swanage
  • Wareham
  • Weymouth

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