Lisburn City Council

Skip to Content | Site Map

Your City Council

REGISTERING A DEATH

 

Why Register a Death?

By law all deaths occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered.

A death should be registered as soon as possible to allow funeral arrangements to proceed, but no later than five days from the date of death, except where the matter has been referred to the Coroner.

Who Can Register a Death?

  • Any relative of the deceased who has knowledge of the particulars required to be registered
  • Any person present at the death
  • The Executor or Administrator of the deceased's estate
  • The occupier (governor, matron, superintendent or other Chief Officer) at the time of death of the premises
  • A person finding the body
  • A person taking charge of the body

What do you need to Register the Death?

The person registering the death must collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and take it to the Registrar. This is normally issued to the relatives by a Doctor who has treated the deceased, within twenty-eight days before the date of death. If the deceased had not been seen by a Doctor within that period or where the death was not caused by natural illness the case would have to be referred to the Coroner.

Where Can a Death be Registered?

  • With the Registrar in the district the person died or with the Registrar in the district the person lived.

Details Required to Register a Death

  • Full name and surname of deceased
  • Date and place of death and usual address
  • Marital Status
  • Date and place of birth
  • Occupation of deceased (if the deceased was a wife or widow, the full names and occupation of her husband, or late husband will be required. If the deceased was a child, the full names and occupation of the father will required or where the parents are not married the full names and occupation of the mother will be required)
  • Maiden Surname (if applicable)
  • The deceased medical card or national health number, are helpful but not essential

Please note that a registrar cannot easily be changed once completed.

Deaths Registered Prior to 1997

Certified copies of all deaths registered in Northern Ireland may only be obtained from :

General Register Office
Oxford House
49-55 Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 4HL
Telephone number : (028) 9025 2000

www.groni.gov.uk (Certificates can be ordered on line)