When Someone Dies

The death of a loved one can be a very distressing and troubling time, and it can be hard to know what to do next. This page aims to guide you through the necessary steps that will have to be made after someone close passes away and explain the administrative procedures involved.

 

There are several things that need to be done within the first five days; sadly, these have to be during a time of distress. Relatives or close friends can attend to some of these matters. Others need to be completed by the executor or administrator of the estate.

You are generally required to register the death within five 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 they 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?

Your relative’s death will be registered by a prior agreed telephone appointment.

Once you have registered the death, the registrar will send you the Death Certificate by post and email us the certificate of burial or cremation, allowing the funeral to occur.

N.B.  If you require additional copies of the Death Certificate, these are best purchased when registering and are £11 per copy; please ensure you have a means of payment available, such as a credit or debit card.

Castle Point Council, Rayleigh & Rochford Council areas

Offices open: Monday: 9 am – 5 pm

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

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

Appointments Booking No.: 01702 215009

or book online @ www.southend.gov.uk

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 several 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.