Registration of Funeral Directors | Stoneman Funeral Service

There is no need to obtain certificates before making preliminary funeral arrangements with us. We can advise you on all registration procedures.

When Can You Register?

Since September 2024, you cannot register a death until a medical examiner has reviewed and approved the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

Once the medical examiner completes their review, they will send the certificate directly to the registrar. You’ll then be notified that you can register the death.

You must register within 5 days of being notified by the registrar – not within 5 days of the death itself.

More about the medical examiner process →

Where to Register

A death must be registered by law in the district in which it occurred.

To make an appointment to register a death, call 0300 200 1002 or visit gov.uk/register-a-death

View our local Registrars →

Who Can Register a Death?

For deaths at home, hospital, or nursing home:

A relative of the deceased who was present at death
A relative of the deceased who was in attendance during illness
A relative residing or being in the district where the death occurred
A person present at the death
The deceased’s partner
The deceased’s representative
The occupier of the house (if they knew of the death)
Any inmate of the house (if they knew of the death)
The person dealing with disposal of the body (not the funeral director)

For deaths elsewhere:

A relative of the deceased having knowledge of the required particulars
A person present at the death
The person who found the body
The person in charge of the body
The person dealing with disposal of the body (not the funeral director)

What Information You’ll Need

When registering the death, you must be prepared to state accurately:

The date and place of death and the deceased’s usual address
The full names and surname (and maiden name if the deceased was a married woman or widow)
The date and place of birth (including country if born abroad)
The occupation of the deceased (and the name and occupation of their husband if the deceased was a married woman or widow)
Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
If the deceased was married, the age of the surviving widow or widower

What You’ll Receive

Green Certificate (Certificate for Burial or Cremation)

The Registrar will issue this certificate, which we require to proceed with either burial or cremation. The registrar will usually email this certificate directly to us.

Certificate of Registration of Death

This is for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Full Death Certificates

You can purchase additional certified copies of the death certificate from the Registrar for insurance companies, banks, solicitors, etc. There is a fee for each copy.

Tip: Consider how many copies you’ll need – it’s usually cheaper to order them at registration than to request them later.

Tell Us Once Service

When you register the death, the registrar will offer you the Tell Us Once service. This government service lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go.

The registrar will:

Let you know if the service is available in your area
Give you the phone number
Give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service online or by phone

More about who to notify →

If the Coroner is Involved

If HM Coroner is investigating the death, the registration procedure will differ. The coroner will issue the necessary certificates once their investigation is complete, and you’ll then be able to register the death.

We can advise you on this process if the coroner is involved.

More about Coroner procedures →