Registering a Death
Registering the death of a loved one can be a stressful and upsetting time. This webpage will provide information and guidance to help you through the registration process.
Important Information: Updated 7 May 2024
This service continues to be very busy and the team are working hard to get through the volume of registrations we are receiving at this time.
We will contact the informant at the earliest opportunity to arrange a suitable appointment.
Please note deaths can be registered at any chosen registration office in Scotland.
Remote Registration Service
Death registrations now take place remotely (over the phone). The service operates Monday - Friday 9.00am until 3.30pm. See below for further information on the process for registering a death.
What do I need to know?
All deaths in Scotland must normally be registered within 8 days.
If the event took place out with Scotland, it must be registered in the country the death occurred.
Who can register a death?
Conatct details for the informant are normally provided by the GP or certifying doctor when sending in the MCCD to the registration office.
The death can be registered by:
- Any relative of the deceased
- Any person who was present when the person died
- The deceased's executor or another legal representative
- The occupier of the property where the person died; or if there is no such person,
- Anyone else who knows the necessary information to register the death
You must be at least 16 years of age to act as a qualified informant.
For more information please visit NRS - Deaths.
What documents do I need to register a death?
To assist the registration, it would be helpful if you had the following available;
- The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) issued by the doctor or hospital who certified the death (this should already be with the Registrar prior to your call).
- The deceased's birth certificate
- The deceased's marriage or civil partnership certificate, if applicable
- The deceased's medical card
What is the process for registering a death?
Before the death registration process can begin, we must be in possession of a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11) (MCCD). It is the responsibility of the GP or certifying Doctor to email this certificate/form through to the Registrar in the local area, as identified by the informant (The person who registers the death). MCCD's should only be sent to one local Registrartion Office, usually the office nearest the address of the deceased. Sending MCCD's to multiple offices can result in delays and could also result in the death being registered more than once.
If the death is to be registered in Glasgow then this should be emailed to genreg@glasgow.gov.uk.
It would greatly assist the registration process if contact details of the nominated informant e.g. a family member or funeral director could be included when the MCCD is sent to the Registration Office. If no contact details are provided it is then the responsibility of the informant to contact the Registration Office to start proceedings/initiate the process.
Thereafter, the original copy of the MCCD should be posted to the Registration office by the GP or certifying Doctor at:
Registration Office, Mail Room, City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DU
As soon as the MCCD is received by the registration office, the process of registration can begin, and a member of the registration team will contact you. This is normally within a few days of receiving the paperwork. Please note the call may be from an unknown number.
Registrations are dealt with in the order in which the paperwork is received.
Please note it may take more than a single phone call with the informant to finalise the registration process. Please be available for your scheduled appointment time if you are contacted in advance.
It is recommended that whilst preliminary arrangements can be made regarding the funeral service a date for the service should not be finalised until the registration of the death has been completed. Your chosen Funeral Director should advise you of the same.
What is the Death Certification Review Service?
NHS Scotland carry out a random review to help improve the quality and accuracy of all Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD). The randomisation will be made during the registration process and if selected for review, there may be a short delay in registering the death and making funeral arrangements. The doctor who signed the certificate will be able to give you more information on this
What documents will I receive following the completion of the registration?
- An abbreviated Death Certificate, which is issued free of charge
- A Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14) which will be required by the funeral director before any burial or cremation service. If the Funeral Undertaker's details are known at the time of the registration, this form is normally sent to them directly by email.
- Tell us once unique reference number, if you wish to utilise this service
A full Death Certificate can be purchased for the statutory fee of £10.00 per copy at the time of the registration.
How do I pay?
Glasgow City Council now operates a cashless payment system. Payment can be made over the phone at the time of your appointment by credit or debit card at the end of the registration using our Call Secure system.
Notifying other council services
Once the death has been registered the registrar will notify council tax and the electoral registration office.
Tell Us Once
Once you have registered the death with a registrar, you will be given a unique reference number for Tell Us Once where you will be able to go online to use this service. Other local council services can also be notified using the DWP Tell Us Once system.
View the British Sign Language version here.
For more information Tell Us Once (PDF, 194 KB)(opens new window)
Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 weeks
National Records of Scotland (NRS) have recently launched the Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 weeks.
The "Memorial Book" is a commemorative record held by NRS for those that wish to record the loss of a pregnancy which took place before the 24th week, where there were no signs of life when the loss occurred.
Along with an entry in the book, those eligible who have experienced a loss will be able to apply for a commemorative certificate which is intended to give recognition and may provide comfort to those who want to record their loss.
The service is free of charge and completely voluntary.
There is no time limit on making an application for an entry in the Memorial Book and applications may be submitted for a historical or a recent loss.
Applicants should be aware that a certificate from the Memorial Book has no legal status and cannot be used as evidence of the loss.
For more information and to apply, please visit - https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/memorial-book-of-pregnancy-and-baby-loss-prior-to-24-weeks.
Funeral Support Payment
- The Funeral Support Payment helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn. Please visit Funeral Support Payment - mygov.scot
What happens if I am late for my appointment?
If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment slot, please email genreg@glasgow.gov.uk so that another appointment can be arranged.
Can I cancel or reschedule my appointment?
If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment slot, please email genreg@glasgow.gov.uk so that another appointment can be arranged.
Contact Us
For all other enquiries not listed above please email genreg@glasgow.gov.uk
Related Content
- Penalty Notice (PDF, 116 KB)(opens new window)
- Bereavement Support Leaflet (PDF, 152 KB)(opens new window)
- National Records of Scotland - Privacy Notice for Births, Deaths, Marriages, Civil Partnerships (PDF, 101 KB)(opens new window)
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