Register a death

Death Registration

How do I register a death?

When someone dies in England or Wales the death needs to be registered at the register office for the district in which it happened. There is a legal requirement to register the death within five days of the register office receiving the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) from the Medical Examiner. 

Before you book a death registration appointment

In most cases (unless the Coroner is involved), the Medical Examiner’s Office will contact the next of kin by telephone after reviewing the cause of death.

Please do not book an appointment until the Medical Examiner tells you that the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been sent to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) Register Office. 

This is a common point of confusion. A call from your GP, hospital, hospice, or other healthcare professional to say that they have completed their paperwork does not mean you are able to book your appointment to register the death.

You can only book your death registration appointment when:

• The Medical Examiner has completed their review and told you that the MCCD has been emailed to RBWM Register Office; or
• The Coroner has completed their process and advised you that you can arrange the registration.

When to book

Once you have been informed by the Medical Examiner or Coroner that the paperwork has been sent to RBWM Register Office, please use the link below to book your appointment online.

Please book the earliest appointment you are able to attend.

By law, a death must be registered within five days of the Register Office receiving the medical paperwork, so it is important that you arrange your appointment as soon as you are told the documents have been sent to the Register Office.

Book an appointment

If the person died in a house or hospital, the death can be registered by:

• a spouse, relative or partner.
• someone present at the death.
• an occupant of the house or official from the hospital (if that is where the death occurred).
• the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.
• a legal representative of the deceased.

Deaths which occur anywhere else can be registered by:

• a spouse, relative or partner.
• 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.
• a legal representative of the deceased.

The majority of deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. 

In extenuating circumstances where you are unable to travel to the register office in the district where the death took place, it may be possible to register the death by declaration in your local register office. 

For more information about this, please email us at registrar@rbwm.gov.uk or leave us a voicemail on 01628 796422.

Book an appointment