Registering a Death

Important Information

Registrars are now able to carry out death registrations remotely - there will be no face to face Appointments.

Our hours available to the public for remote death registrations are Monday to Friday 9.00am until 4.30pm.

In order to register the death it is the responsibility of the GP, or Hospital Doctor (if death occurred in hospital) to email Form 11 Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the Registrar in the local area as identified by the informant. It would greatly assist the process if contact details of the informant e.g. Family member or if not available Funeral Director could be included with the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. If no contact details are included it would then be the responsibility of the informant to contact the Registration office to start the process of registration.

The original Medical Certificate of Cause of Death should thereafter be posted to the office of the Registrar by the GP or Hospital Doctor.

Once the email Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is received by the registration team the process of registration can begin. A member of the team will normally contact you within a couple of days of receiving the paperwork.

It may take more than one phone call with the informant to finalise the registration process. They will be dealt with as quickly as possible in the order received.

If the death is to be registered in Glasgow then the MCCD should be emailed to genreg@glasgow.gov.uk.

Address for posting Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to Glasgow is Registration Office, Mail Room, City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow G2 1DU

Please do not send MCCDs to several offices, only choose the local office, normally where the person stayed or the nearest one to address if possible.

Check neighbouring local authority websites as relevant for contact details.

What do I need to do?

When someone dies it can be a stressful and upsetting time. In this section there is information and guidance aimed at helping you through the registration process.

All deaths in Scotland must normally be registered within 8 days.

If the event took place outwith Scotland it must be registered in the country the death occurred.

In Glasgow death registrations now take place remotely. Please see details at the top of this page for information on remote registration.

How do I make an appointment?

Currently no face to face appointment are available for death registrations. Registrars are able to carry out registrations remotely.

Please see details at the top of this page for information on remote registration.

Who can register a death?

The death can be registered by:

Any relative of the deceased; or
Any person present when the person died; or
The deceased's executor or other legal representative; or
The occupier of the property where the person died; or if there is no such person,
Anyone else who knows the information to be registered.

You must be 16 years of age to act as a qualified informant.

For more information please visit NRS - Deaths

What documents should I take to the Registrar?

Currently no face to face appointment are available for death registrations. Registrars are able to carry out registrations remotely.

Please see details at the top of this page for information on remote registration.

To assist the registration it would be helpful if you had the following available;

The medical certificate of cause of death issued by the doctor who certified the death or the hospital (MCCD). 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 documents will I receive?

An abbreviated death certificate, which is issued free of charge;
A certificate of registration of death (form 14) for production to the person in charge of the burial ground or crematorium;
A social security registration or notification of death certificate (form BD8) for use in obtaining or adjusting social security benefits.
Tell us once letter if you wish to use this service.
A full death certificate can be purchased for the statutory fee of £10.00 each.

How do I pay?

During the current pandemic period payment for extracts will be taken over the phone by credit or debit card.

Notifying other council services

Once the death has been registered the registrar will notify the electoral registration service, council tax and other local council services that the deceased may have used.

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.

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