Register a death
After someone has died, one of the first things that must be done is to legally register the death.
In most circumstances this must be done within 5 calendar days.
Your appointment
You will be given a private appointment with the registrar.
If you wish to tell us about other government services that the deceased used, you can use our Tell Us Once service.
Appointments to register a death normally take 45 minutes.
Unless the coroner has ordered a post mortem, you will need to take the medical certificate of cause of death, which was issued by the doctor treating the person who has died.
This is the information we will need about the person who has died.
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Date and place of death
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Name, surname and maiden name (if applicable) of the deceased
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The deceased’s date and place of birth
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Their National insurance number
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Last occupation of the deceased
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The usual address of the deceased
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Their driving licence or driving licence number, if they held one – for Tell Us Once
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Their passport, if they had one – for Tell Us Once
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Whether the deceased received any pension or benefits from public funds
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Name and last occupation of the deceased’s spouse (if married or widowed)
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If the deceased was still married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse.
The full name and address of the person making the registration will also be added to the register.
You may also ask for information about the next of kin and the person dealing with the deceased’s estate. You must get the agreement of these people if you are going to provide us with information about them.
Costs
You will be able to buy as many copies of the death certificate as you need. Each certificate will cost £11.
The number of certificates you need to buy will depend on the number of organisations that need to be informed about the death.
Banks, building societies, pension and life insurance companies will all usually ask to see a death certificate.
The registrar will give you a form (a green form) authorising the burial or cremation (unless this has already been issued by the coroner).
They will also give you a form, which you can use to notify the Department for Work and Pensions if you have chosen not to use our free service to inform them on your behalf.
For more information on Registering a Death please click here
How to find
Taunton Register Office
Old Municipal Buildings
Corporation Street
TAUNTON
TA1 4AQ
01823 282251
