When Someone Dies

You are legally required to register the death within 5 days except in certain circumstances, where the period may be extended to 14 days. If the Coroner is investigating the death, they will issue the Death Certificate to you directly and you will then be required to register the death once the Coroner’s Certificate has been received.

Who can register the Death?

People with legal responsibility to register include:

• A Relative
• A person present at the death
• The occupier of the premises where the death occurred if he/she knew it was happening.
• The person arranging the funeral. (This does not mean the funeral director.)

(See also the list on the notice to Informants attached to the Doctors Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.)

Where do I register the death?

All offices operate a strict pre-booked appointment system

Castle Point Council areas

South Benfleet Library,

264 High Road,

South Benfleet,  SS7 5HD

Office open: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9am – 5pm

Rayleigh and Rochford Council areas

Rayleigh Library,

132-134 High Street,

Rayleigh, SS6 7BX

Office open: Monday: 9am – 5pm

or

Rochford Library,

8 Roche Close,

Rochford, SS4 1PX

Office open: Thursday 9.30am – 4.30pm

Centralised Appointment’s Booking No: 0345 603 7632

or book online @ www.essex.gov.uk

Southend Borough Council areas

• Leigh-on-sea
• Westcliff
• Southend (inc. Southend Hospital)
• Shoeburyness

The Civic Centre

Victoria Avenue,

Southend-on-Sea  SS2 6ER

Monday – Friday 9.30 am – 12.30 pm, 1.30 pm – 4 pm

Appointments Booking No.: 01702 215009

GOV.UK
A complete guide to death and bereavement.
Visit site

HM Coroner for Essex
Information on HM Coroner for Essex.
Visit site

Essex Registrar
Find your nearest registration office when registering a death.
Visit site

There are a number of details of the deceased that it would be helpful to have at hand that will help you complete forms or documents in the coming days and weeks.

• National Insurance Number
• NHS Number
• Date and Place of Birth
• Date of marriage or civil partnership (if appropriate) Child Benefit Number (if appropriate)
• Tax reference Number

If there is no will, a close relative of the deceased can apply to the probate registry to deal with the estate. In this case they apply for a ‘grant of letters of administration’. If the grant is given, they are known as ‘administrators’ of the estate. Like the grant of probate, the grant of letters of administration is a legal document which confirms the administrator’s authority to deal with the deceased person’s assets. In some cases, for example, where the person who benefits is a child, the law states that more than one person must act as the administrator.