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Make an appointment to register a death

You must make an appointment to register a death. You can do this either by telephoning the appropriate office in Kirklees or by attending in person.

Home: Community full menu: Births, deaths, marriages and ceremonies: Death and bereavement

Registering a death

Lesley Hewitson - April 2011
dewsbury.registrars@kirklees.gov.uk
huddersfield.registrars@kirklees.gov.uk

About registering a death

When a death occurs, it is a difficult time for everyone. Staff at the Kirklees register office are here to help you and make the process of registering the death as simple and easy as possible.
  • There is no charge for registering a death.
  • Free forms will be given to you for use by the funeral director (if applicable) and for the Department for Work and Pensions.
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When to register a death

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a death should be registered within five days of its happening unless the coroner is involved.
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Where to register a death

  • A death must be registered in the district where it occurred.
  • To register a death in the Kirklees area you will need to book an appointment.
  • You can do this either by contacting the appropriate office or by attending in person.
  • However, you may attend at any register office in England and Wales to supply the details required for the entry (known as 'registering by declaration'). The registrar will send the details through the post to the appropriate office on your behalf, where the death will be recorded in the register.
  • Please note if we record the details for transmission to another register office we will be unable to issue any death certificates or paperwork for the funeral.
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Who can register a death

In the event of a death one of the following people have a legal obligation to register the death:
  • A relative of the deceased
  • An adult present at the death
  • A person arranging the funeral (not the funeral director).
In certain circumstances other people, may be able to register a death, for advice please contact the register office.
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What is needed to register

You will need to provide the following information about the deceased and documentation:
  • Medical certificate of death issued by a doctor, unless a coroner has advised you that this isn't needed
  • When and where the death happened
  • Full name, surname
  • Address
  • Date and place of birth
  • Last known occupation
  • If the person who has died was married, a widower or widow, the full names and occupation of his or her spouse.
If easily available we suggest you bring with you:
  • Deceased's birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
  • Deceased's medical card (NHS Card)
If the deceased received a pension or allowance from public funds, eg: Civil service or army pension please inform the registrar.
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Purchasing a death certificate

  • You may purchase a death certificate at the time of registration.
  • Copies of the certificates at the time of the registration are £3.50.
  • Please note that the fee for certificates at a later date may vary.
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Tell Us Once about a death

Who we tell

  • Adult services
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Blue Badge parking permit
  • Carer's Allowance
  • Child Benefit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Children's services
  • Council housing
  • Council tax
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  • Electoral services
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Library services
  • Owed payments to council
  • Passport Service
  • Pension Services
  • Tax Help for Older People
  • Working Tax Credit

What you need to bring

  • Deceased's National Insurance Number
  • Deceased's surviving husband, wife or civil partner's National Insurance Number OR next of kin's National Insurance Number
  • Next of kin's name, address and telephone number (You must obtain the agreement of the persons listed above if you are going to provide us with information about them.)
  • Information about any benefits and services the deceased may have been receiving (e.g. state pension, income support, housing benefit, library card etc)
  • Name and address of the person dealing with the deceased's estate (if different)
  • Driving Licence (if held), or Driver Number if licence not available
  • Passport (if held) or Passport Number if passport not available
  • Blue Badge (if held)

Using the service

  • This is a completely free service.
  • You will be offered the service automatically, as part of your appointment for registering a death at Dewsbury and Huddersfield register offices.
  • You do not have to use the service.
  • We notify multiple local and national government agencies on your behalf.
  • It reduces your time spent contacting these agencies.
  • It means you don't need to purchase and send copies of the death certificate to the agencies.
  • If choose not to use the service at your appointment, the registrar will give you details of a telephone service which is available after registration, should you change your mind.

After your appointment

  • When you leave your appointment, you will be given a letter that tells you:
    • your Tell Us Once reference number;
    • which departments we have notified on your behalf (they may contact you separately to confirm that the relevant processing has been completed);
    • contact details in case of any query.

Your information is safe

  • We will treat all your information securely.
  • The organisations that we give your information to, will use it to update their records, but only as the law allows.

If you don't hear from all of the departments we notify

  • If you have not heard from a department within 28 days, you may contact the Tell Us Once telephone service who will follow it up on your behalf.
  • Due to the secure nature in which your information is treated, the register office will not be informed of any correspondence between you and the department.
  • We cannot contact departments for you.
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Contact the Registration Service

The Registration Service is primarily concerned with registration of births and deaths, taking notices of marriages and civil partnerships, performing civil ceremonies and issuing copy certificates from records dating back to 1837.

Dewsbury Register Office

Jessica Beaumont
Dewsbury Register Office
Wellington Street
Dewsbury
WF13 1LY
Tel: 01924 324733
Email: dewsbury.registrars@kirklees.gov.uk

Huddersfield Register Office

Lena Corion
Huddersfield Register Office
Huddersfield Town Hall
Ramsden Street
Hudddersfield
HD1 2TA
Tel: 01484 221030
Email: huddersfield.registrars@kirklees.gov.uk
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