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Registration & The Coroner

If death occurs at home, contact deceased’s GP as soon as possible. The GP may write out the Medical Cause of Death Certificate when they call to certify the death, or they may request that you collect same from the Surgery. In the event that the GP cannot issue this certificate, the death will be referred to H M Coroner.

If death occurs in a nursing home, the staff will contact the GP on your behalf, and again you may be asked to collect the Medical Cause of Death Certificate from the Surgery.

If death occurs in hospital, the ward will make an appointment for you with the Bereavement Office at the hospital. They are able to provide you with information, and in some hospitals, you can register the death at the Bereavement Office.

If a death occurs suddenly or unexpectedly, whether as a result of apparent natural causes, an accident or a crime, then the death will be automatically referred to H M Coroner. This can be irrespective of where the death occurs.

When a death has been reported to H M Coroner, they will issue a Medical Certificate of Death. This form will then be sent by a Coroner’s officer to The Registrar. There is no need for you to arrange to collect this certificate. In some cases while still awaiting specialist reports from medical professionals, the Coroner may issue an interim certificate to enable the funeral to take place before they conclude their investigation.

You can make an appointment at the Registration Office by calling 0345 241 2489, or click here to be taken to their online booking system. When making an appointment with the Oxfordshire Registration Service you will be given the choice of the following seven offices:

Abingdon
Roysse Court
Bridge Street
Abingdon
OX14 3HU

Banbury
Bodicote House
Banbury
OX15 4AA

Bicester
The Garth
Launton Road
Bicester
OX26 6PS

Didcot
197 Broadway
Didcot
OX11 8RU

Henley
68 Northfield End
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 2JN

Oxford
1 Tidmarsh Lane
Oxford
OX1 1NS

Witney
Council Offices
Woodgreen
Witney
OX28 1NB

If the death occurred outside of Oxfordshire then you will need to contact the Registration Office for the sub-district in which the death occurred.

Who can register:

• A close relative of the person who has died

• A relative in attendance during the last illness

• A person present at the death

• The person making the funeral arrangements

Documents to be taken to the Registry Office:

• Medical Cause of Death Certificate

• NHS Medical Card (if available)

• Birth Certificate

Information Required to be given to the Registrar:

• Date and place of death

• Full name of the Person who has died plus any other names that they have been known by, including maiden name if applicable.

• Date and place of birth

• Home address and postcode

• Occupation

• If married, full name and occupation of surviving spouse

• Please take to the Registrar, any Benefit or Pension books from the State that the Person who has died was receiving from the Government

The informant will be given the following certificates:

•  A Green Certificate to be given to the Funeral Director to enable the funeral to take place

•  A copy of the entry of death certificate. This certificate will be required for banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions. (Additional copies can be purchased at the time of registering the Death)

•  A Social Security Certificate