Register a death
Register a death
On behalf of Northumberland Registration Service please accept our sincere condolences for your loss.
Learn when to register, how to book an appointment, learn what documents to bring and how to notify relevant organisations.
You may also find our funeral arrangement guide useful at this difficult time.
When to register
A death that has not been referred to the coroner should be registered, where possible, within 5 calendar days of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) being sent to the registrars. You can do this by booking an appointment below.
If the coroner is investigating the circumstances leading to the death, you will need to email us with the following information:
- deceased's name
- date of death
- place of death
- your name and phone number
Email: deathregistration@northumberland.gov.uk
Book an appointment
If the death occurred in Northumberland
You need to have a face-to-face appointment at a Northumberland register office:
Telephone: 0345 600 6400
Morpeth registrations are at County Hall (NE61 2EF), not Morpeth Town Hall.
If the death occurred outside Northumberland
Details of the death will be sent to the registration district where it occurred - this may be different to where they lived.
You may still make a declaration of death at a Northumberland Register Office if you, the informant, lives in Northumberland by:
Email: deathregistration@northumberland.gov.uk
Otherwise, please contact the registration district where it occurred for an appointment.
Required items for your appointment
Information:
- cause of death
- full name and any other names the deceased was known by (e.g. maiden name)
- date of birth
- last known occupation
- spouse's full name and occupation (if applicable)
- surviving spouse's date of birth (if applicable)
- address
- NHS number (if available)
Documents:
- the deceased's birth certificate
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- spouse's birth certificate (if applicable)
The MCCD will be sent/scanned directly to the register office from the hospital or doctors surgery ready for your appointment.
Costs to register a death
- no charge to register a death
- a correction fee of up to £99 applies if changes are required after signing the register
- £12.50 per certified death certificate, you can order these when booking, during your appointment, or online
- you may need extra death certificates to notify banks, insurance companies etc.
After the death is registered
You'll receive:
- any certificates you've ordered
- a burial or cremation form sent directly to the appropriate department
- a unique access code to use the Tell Us Once service to inform most government organisations in one go
- we will also explain the Settld service which allows you to notify non-government organisations like banks and utilities in one simple step
Correcting errors
If you spot a mistake on the certified death certificate copy, contact the register office immediately.
Registering a stillbirth
Our stillbirth page explains how to officially acknowledge the baby and give them a name.
Deaths abroad
If a death occurs abroad, follow the local regulations to register the death and bring the body back home.
You will need:
- a local death certificate, translated into English
- permission from local authorities to transport the body
Most funeral directors can assist with this process.
Move a body outside England or Wales
To move a body out of England or Wales, you need permission from a coroner. Your funeral director will usually help arrange this, but you must register the death before the body is moved.
Additional information
Our Privacy Notice (PDF) explains how we use your data in this service.
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