Registering a Death

A death must be registered within five days, unless there is a Coroner's investigation, which may take longer. If you need to come to the office to register a death, we will treat you with understanding and sympathy. We will help you in any way we can at this difficult time. No appointment is necessary. We can see you any weekday during normal Register Office opening times. Our Registrar will see you in a private office.

Who needs to register a death?

The death has to be registered by a qualified informant. This should be either:

• a relative who was present either at the death or during the deceased's last illness;
• a person who was present at the death or is responsible for arranging the funeral (but not an undertaker).

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Information needed to register a death

You will need to bring with you: a medical certificate issued by a doctor stating the cause of death, or; if the death has been referred to the Coroner, informants need to speak to the Coroner for availability of the death certificate. The Coroner can be contacted on telephone number 020 8348 4411.

You will be asked: where and when the death occurred; full names and any maiden surname (if applicable); if the deceased was a married woman or widow, the full names and occupation of her husband and the deceased's date and place of birth, occupation and address.

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Costs

Registration is free of charge. You will be given a document for the burial or cremation to take place and a certificate for social security purposes. Any other certificates you may need for your private business (eg: bank, probate, etc.,) will cost £3.50 each.

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Supply of certificates from the historic records

We can supply copies of births, deaths and marriage certificates that have taken place in Haringey since 1837. Copies of full certified birth, marriage and death certificates are £7 or £5.50 for short birth certificates.

You can apply for these by:

• Personal application (during opening hours)
  If you have the correct information, we aim to supply these within fifteen minutes.
• Post
  Applications will be dealt with immediately on receipt of application and fee. If applying by post, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to the: 'London Borough of Haringey'.

For more extensive family history research, it is helpful if you can ring for an appointment. The fee for a general search is £18.

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