Registering a death

By law, all deaths occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered no later than five days from when the death occurred (except where the matter has been referred to the Coroner).

This is free and can be done in any Registrar's office in Northern Ireland.

Registering a death in Belfast is very simple and no appointment is needed. Our Registrar's office is located in Belfast City Hall and is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am to 4pm on Fridays. If you have a query, call us on 028 9027 0274 or email registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk

What information will I need?

You will have to fill in a death registration form.

Download a death registration form (PDF - 2.89MB)

We will also need:

full name, surname and address of the deceased
date and place of death (and birth)
marital status
occupation of the deceased (if they were a wife or widow, the full name and occupation of her husband or deceased husband is needed)
maiden surname, if the deceased was a woman who was married
the full names and occupation of the father, or where the parents are not married, the full name and occupation of the mother, if the deceased was a child
the name and practice address of the deceased's doctor
details of any pension, apart from a state pension that the deceased may have held.

You will also need a medical certificate, signed by a doctor, which shows the cause of death. If the death was sudden or the doctor treating the deceased is unavailable, it may be referred to the Coroner.

The NI Direct website has comprehensive information about what to do if a death is referred to the Coroner or if someone dies abroad.

Who can register?

any relative of the deceased who has knowledge of the details needed to register
a person present at the death
a person taking care of the funeral arrangements
the executor or administrator of the deceased's estate
the governor, matron or chief officer of a public building where the death occurred
a person living in and responsible for a house, lodgings or apartments where the death occurred
a person finding, or taking charge of, the body.

What will I receive?

Once the death is registered, you will receive:

a GRO 21 form which allows a burial or cremation to take place
Form 36 (certificate of registration of death) for social security purposes if the deceased received a state pension or benefits.

Additional certificates, which may be needed when sorting out the deceased's affairs, may be purchased at the time of registration for £8 per copy. You can pay by credit/debit card, cheque or cash.

More information

The General Register Office, based at Oxford House, 49-55 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 4HL, provides help and advice about the following issues:

arranging a funeral
what to do if a death is referred to a Coroner or if someone dies abroad
ordering historical birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates.

Detailed information about all these topics is available from the NI Direct website