Register a death
Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD)
For members of the public
Ther surgery, hospital or hospice which dealt with the death of your loved one will send the document to the Medical Examiner's office. The Medical Examiner will make contact with you to discuss the paperwork before sending to the Register Office. Once the paperwork is finalised please book an appointment using the link below. If you have acquired a Medical Certificate Cause of Death, please return it to the surgery, hospital or hospice that issued it.
Registering a death
You must book an appointment to register a death.
A death must be registered in the district where it occurred. It should be registered within five days unless the coroner is involved.
| Date Paperwork Received | Latest registration day |
|---|---|
| Monday | Saturday |
| Tuesday | Saturday |
| Wednesday | Monday |
| Thursday | Tuesday |
| Friday | Wednesday |
| Saturday | Friday |
| Sunday | Saturday |
If the death has been Reported to a coroner, they will inform you when you are able to make an appointment to register the death.
If you are registering a death which occurred outside Kirklees we send the details to the district where it occurred. They are responsible for issuing a death certificate and paperwork for the funeral.
Who should register the death
A relative, partner or representative of the deceased should register the death.
If any of the above can't register the death, you can if you:
- were present at the time of death
- are an administrator from the hospital (if the person died in hospital)
- are in charge of making funeral arrangements
Cost
There is no charge for registering a death. Forms will be given to you free of charge for use by the funeral director and the Department of Work and Pensions.
You may purchase copies of the register entry in the form of a death certificate on the day of registration.
They cost £12.50 each. Payment can be made by credit or debit card or online after the appointment.
Book an appointment to register a death
For information about how we store your data please read the Kirklees Registration Service Privacy Notice
Fill in our online form
Clock Completing this form takes around 15 minutes.
Paperclip Medical cause of death certificates are sent directly to the registration service by the Medical Examiner, no documents are required prior to registration.
Book an appointmentAfter you've booked
You will receive an appointment confirmation email detailing the date, time and location for your appointment along with a booking reference. Should you need to rearrange or cancel the appointment please contact the relevant office (Register offices | Kirklees Council) as soon as possible, quoting your booking reference.
What the registrar needs to know
- the person's full name at the time of death
- any names previously used, e.g. maiden name
- the person's date and place of birth
- their last address
- their occupation
- the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
- whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits
What you should bring to the appointment
You should take supporting documents that show your name and address (e.g. a utility bill) but you can still register a death without them.
If available (but do not worry if not), also take the person's:
- birth certificate
- Council Tax bill
- driving licence
- marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
- medical card, (NHS Card)
- passport
- a document with the person's usual address.
Please note that you are not legally required to bring these documents but if you do, they can help to ensure that the registration is completed accurately.
What the registrar will give you
Documentation from the Registrar when you register a death:
- The registrar will complete a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (known as the Green Form) which gives permission for burial or an application for cremation. The Registrar will scan this to the relevant Crematorium/Cemetery and your chosen Funeral Director. You can take this document to the funeral director if you wish.
- You will receive a Tell us once reference number and letter explaining how you can automatically inform a number of departments including the Department for Work and Pensions, Kirklees Council, DVLA, Passport Office and HM Revenue and Customs
- You can buy death certificates - these will be needed for Sorting out the person's affairs.
There is a free, easy-to-use service which allows families to inform companies such as banks, insurance, gas, water, telecoms and social media, connected to the deceased, from one place. Register an account with Life Ledger .
Register offices
In Kirklees there are two register offices one in Huddersfield and the other in Dewsbury. See Register offices for contact details and directions.