Information and Guidance
Arranging A Funeral

When someone dies it is a very emotional and trying time for everyone, Who do I call? what do we do now? We suggest you call us first. We will talk you through registering the death, what happens if the coroner is involved with the funeral and any other questions you may have. We have a funeral director available at all times to talk to families, also we will take as much of the burden on ourselves so you can collect your thoughts and prepare for the days ahead. For further information please
contact us


or call 0151 928 1625

Registering A Death
People who have a legal responsibility to register a death include:
  • A Relative.
  • A person present at the death.
  • The occupier of the premises where the death occurred if he/she knew of it happening. (e.g. Manager of a nursing home).
  • The person arranging the funeral (this does not include the funeral director).

What is the process when registering a death?

Death certification changed on 9th September 2024 to a new system. Expected or natural deaths have a certificate completed by a doctor called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death,  who has treated the person in life and can confidently give a cause of death. 

Once this has been completed a second doctor called the Medical Examiner (ME) will scrutinise the death using the patients notes. The ME will also call the family to ask if they agree and if they have any concerns or feedback regarding the care of the person who has died. If the ME agrees, the information will then be sent to the Registrars and you can then proceed to register the death.

If the ME has any concerns the death may be referred to HM Coroner for investigation.  

When you attend your appointment to register a death, please ensure you take the following information with you:

  • The deceased person’s birth certificate or passport. This is not essential but can be helpful.
  • The deceased person’s medical card. This is not essential but is helpful if it can be produced.
What will happen at the appointment?
A Registrar of Births and Deaths will talk to you privately at the Register Office and will ask you for:
  • The date and place of death.
  • The full name and surname of the deceased person (and the maiden surname if the deceased was a married woman).
  • The date and place of birth.
  • The occupation of the deceased and if the deceased person was a married woman, the full name and occupation of her husband.
  • The date of birth of the surviving husband or wife if the deceased person was married.
  • Whether or not the person who died was receiving a pension from public funds.

Once the registration has been completed, the Registrar will ask you to check that all the details are correct before signing the Register. You should check the information carefully before signing. Once you have signed the record, the Registrar will give you:

Documents you will receive at the appointment:
  • A certified copy of the entry in the Register (a death certificate) may be provided at a cost of £12 each if required. This can be used to close accounts or inform organisations that the death has occurred.
  • A form for Social Security purposes. There is no charge for this form.
  • Tell Us Once - The Registrar will give you imformation about the Tell Us Once Service. This is a service that closes and cancels anything for the deceased person that is provided by the Government. Such as any benefits being received. Passport, Driving Licence etc.
  • A “green form” called the ‘Registrar’s Certificate for Burial and Cremation’ which will allow you to arrange the funeral. There is no charge for this form. Where the Coroner is involved a different procedure may apply. This is now emailed to the Funeral Director and the Cemetery/Crematorium. This may also be sent electronically.
Register Offices:
Sefton
The GP or Hospital will send a form to the registrars. When they have done this the registrars will call to make an appointment. If you have not heard in 5 working days then call them please.  
 
Sefton Registration Service – Tel: 0151 934 2044 (option 4)
Waterloo Register Office – Great Georges Road, Waterloo L22 1RB
or
Southport  Register Office – Corporation Street, Southport PR8 1DA 
 
Liverpool
Liverpool Register Office:  St George’s Hall, St George’s Place, Liverpool L1 1JJ  Tel 0151 233 3004 
Please click here to make an appointment for Liverpool. 
The Coroner
When a death is reported to a coroner
A doctor may report the death to a coroner if:
  • the cause of death is unknown.
  • the death was violent or unnatural.
  • the death was sudden and unexplained.
  • the person who died was not visited by a medical practitioner during their final illness.
  • the medical certificate isn’t available.
  • the death occurred during an operation or before the person came out of anaesthetic.
  • the medical certificate suggests the death may have been caused by an industrial disease or industrial poisoning.
  • the death occurred in custody.

The coroner may decide that the cause of death is not for registration. In this case:

1. The doctor signs a medical certificate.

2. You take the medical certificate to the registrar.

3. The coroner issues a certificate to the registrar stating a post-mortem isn’t needed.

Post-mortems

To find out how the person died, the coroner may decide a post-mortem is needed. This can be done either in a hospital or mortuary.

 

You can’t object to a coroner’s post-mortem – but if you’ve asked the coroner must tell you (and the person’s GP) when and where the examination will take place.

After the post-mortem:

1. The coroner will release the body for a funeral once they have completed the post-mortem examinations and no further examinations are needed.

2. If the body is released with no inquest, the coroner will send a form (‘Pink Form – form 100B’) to the registrar stating the cause of death.

3. If the body is to be cremated, the coroner will also send a ‘Certificate of Coroner – form Cremation 6’.

If the Coroner decides to hold an inquest

A coroner must hold an inquest if the cause of death is still unknown, or if the person:

  • possibly died a violent or unnatural death
  • died in prison or police custody

You can’t register the death until after the inquest. The coroner is responsible for sending the relevant paperwork to the registrar.

 

The death can’t be registered until after the inquest, but the coroner can give you a certificate to prove the person is dead. When the inquest is over the coroner will tell the registrar what to put in the register.