Legal duties
Registering a death in England.
By law, a death in England or Wales must be registered within five days, unless the coroner is involved. The register office will set the appointment — we will help you with the paperwork and tell you what to bring.
Who registers the death.
Usually a relative, but a person present at the death, the person arranging the funeral, or an official from the hospital can register in their stead. If you are not sure whether it falls to you, telephone us and we will help you work it out.
Where to register.
The death is registered at the register office for the district in which the person died — not where they lived. For a death in Camden, that is Camden Register Office; for Islington, it is Islington Register Office. Booking in advance is required at both.
When to register.
Within five days of the death in England and Wales, unless the coroner is involved. If the coroner is involved, the registrar will tell you when to attend once the coroner releases the paperwork. There is no penalty for a delay caused by the coroner.
What to bring.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (or, if the coroner is involved, the form they issue), the person's full name and any former names, date and place of birth, last address, occupation, and details of their spouse or civil partner if any. Bring photo ID for yourself if you have it.
What you will receive.
A Death Certificate (we usually advise ordering four to six certified copies — banks, pensions, probate, and utilities each tend to want their own), a reference for the free "Tell Us Once" service which notifies most government departments in one go, and the Green Form which authorises burial or cremation. We will guide you on what goes where.
Local register offices
For Camden and Islington.
These are the two offices most families we work with need. Both require an appointment; we can help you book one.
Camden Register Office
Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE
Islington Register Office
Town Hall, Upper Street, London N1 2UD
If the person died outside Camden or Islington, tell us where and we will point you to the right local office.
When you are ready, we are here.
We are at the end of the phone whenever you need us, and we answer every call ourselves. Or send a message and we will come back to you the same day.
Tracy's Funeral Directors · 2 Brecknock Road, London N7 0DD