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What To Do At Time Of Death (Applicable to Scotland)
Before registering the death you may wish to consider contacting your selected funeral director for advice on obtaining the death certificate, making an appointment with the appropriate Registrar's office and on the additional documents required in order to register the death.
In some instances the issue of a medical certificate of cause of death may not be straightforward. It may be that the Procurator Fiscal is involved, particularly in the cases of sudden or unexpected death. In such instances it is important that contact be made with your selected funeral undertaker in order that assistance may be given to the bereaved family in the time leading up to the issue of death certificate.
During this time, provisional arrangements may be made which can be put in to effect at short notice when the necessary clearance is granted.
Registration of a Death
Who May Give Particulars to a Registrar
All deaths occurring in Scotland must be registered by a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 8 days of their occurrence.
The duty to provide the particulars for registration rests principally with a relative of the deceased, but if no such relative is available the duty may be performed by any person present at the death, or the deceased's executor or other legal representative, or the occupier of the premises where the death took place.
Place of Registration
Any death which occurs in Scotland MUST BE REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND. Deaths can be registered at any registration office in Scotland.
Particulars Required
The particulars required for registration purposes include the following:
- The full name, occupation, and postal address of the deceased person, and his or her date of birth;
- If the deceased was a married man, in a registered civil partnership, widowed, a surviving civil partner, divorced, or his previous civil partnership was dissolved or annulled, the full name of his wife or former wife, civil partner or former civil partner;
- If the deceased was a married woman, in a registered civil partnership, widowed, a surviving civil partner, divorced, or her previous civil partnership was dissolved or annulled, the full name of her husband or former husband, civil partner or former civil partner;
- If the deceased had been married or in a registered civil partnership more than once, particulars of previous spouses or civil partners;
- If the deceased was married or in a registered civil partnership at the date of death, the date of birth of the surviving widow, widower or civil parner;
- The full name and occupation of the deceased person's father and the full name, maiden surname and occupation of the deceased's mother;
- The name and address of the deceased's own doctor.
Documents Required
In addition, the following documents should be taken to the Registrar's office:
(a) The medical certificate of cause of death (normally given by the deceased person's doctor, or by the hospital in which the death occurred);
(b) The deceased's National Health Service medical card, if available;
(c) The deceased's birth certificate, if available.
(d) The deceased's marriage or civil partnership registration certificate if applicable.
Advice will also be offered on bereavement benefits available from the Department for Work and Pensions (Social Fund payments from Department of Social Security), Green Form BD08, White Form 14, Extracts from the entry in the Register of Deaths (Death Certificates) and associated costs. |
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