Registering a death

Registration of births, marriages and deaths

Registrar's Office
Yeomanry House
(Entrance in Coley Avenue)
131 Castle Hill
Reading RG1 7TA

Tel: 0118 901 5124

Registrations by prior appointment only.

Opening hours: 

• 9.00am-12.30pm: Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri;
• 9.30am-12.30pm Wed;
• 2.00pm-4.00pm Mon-Fri.

At the Registrar’s Office:

What information to bring with you

The list of those qualified to register a death is attached to the envelope given to you by the Bereavement Officer. Please check your eligibility before going to the Registrar’s Office. The person who goes to the Registrar’s Office with the hospital certificate or at the direction of the Coroner’s Officer must, whenever possible, be able to give the following particulars:

• The date and place (ward name and hospital name) of death and the deceased’s usual address.
• The full names and surname (spelt correctly) of the deceased. You will also need to provide the maiden name if the deceased was a woman who had married.
• The date and place of birth (town or county, or, if from abroad, the country) of the deceased.
• The occupation of the deceased and the full names and occupation of her husband if the deceased was a widowed or married woman.
• Whether the deceased was receiving a pension or any type of allowance from public funds.
• The age of the surviving widow or widower if the deceased was married.
• The date of admission to hospital.

NB: If possible, you should also deliver the deceased’s medical card to the Registrar. If you cannot find this or if any of the above information is not available, you should still go to the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible.

What the Registrar will give you

• A green certificate (Form 9) which you should give to your funeral director as soon as possible. There is no charge made for this.
• A notification or registration of death form (BD8) for use in connection with Department of Work and Pensions benefits. This is also free.
• Certified copies of the entry of death. These are known as death certificates and are most often needed for insurance, premium bonds, bank accounts and private pension purposes – photocopies are usually not acceptable. The Registrar will charge a fee of £3.50 per copy.