A death should be registered within five days but registration can be delayed for another nine days if the registrar is told that a medical certificate has been issued. If the death has been reported to the Coroner you cannot register the death until the Coroner’s investigations are finished.

It is a criminal offence not to register a death.

The death should be registered by one of the following within a five day period (in order of priority). This is a simple question­ and-answer process, and to save time, worry and confusion it is best to write down clearly all the details beforeyou visit the registrar:

• a relative who was present at the death
• a relative present during the person’s last illness
• a relative living in the district where the death took place
• anyone else present at the death
• an owner or occupier of the building where the death took place and who was aware of the death
• the person arranging the funeral (but not the funeral director)

You cannot delegate responsibility for registering the death to someone else.

For information purposes we suggest you take along the following

• Medical Certificate (of cause of death).
• The deceased’s medical card (if possible).
• The deceased’s birth & marriage certificates (if available).
• The date and place of death.
• The deceased’s last home address.
• The deceased’s first names and surnames (and the maiden name where appropriate).
• The parents name of the deceased (if he / she was less than 16 years of age).
• The deceased’s date and place of birth (town & county if born in UK, and country if born abroad).
• The deceased’s occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse, and of previous spouses (if appropriate).
• If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower.
• Fee. It is best to ask for several copies of the Death Certificate

Following the registration, if the deceased case was referred to the Coroner and no Burial Order was issued then a “Certificate for Burial” (also known as the “Green Form”) will be given to you by the Registrar. This form gives permission for the body to be buried.

In order for the Social Security Department to record the death a “Certificate of Registration” (form: BD8 rev) will be issued to you. This form is for Social Security purposes only.

If you need evidence for obtaining probate, pensions claims, premium bonds and saving certificates then the “Death Certificate (s)” will be used for this purpose. This is a certified copy of the entry in the Death Register.

If a baby is stillborn (after the 24th week of pregnancy) then the death has to be registered and a “Certificate of Registration of Stillborn” will be given to you by the Registrar.

If a baby is stillborn (on or before the 24th week of pregnancy) then there is no requirement for registration. The hospital documentation is sufficient to allow burial.

Please note that during an out of hours registration the Funeral Arranger has to accompany the applicant to register the death and obtain the Burial Order. Once an out of hours appointment has been made the Registrar will meet the applicant and the Funeral Arranger.

For addresses and contact numbers for the Registrars Offices see section under Contacts.

Bookings (Leicester City Council Cemeteries Office)

Only appointed members of each Funeral Arranging Organisation who are listed in the current registered Muslim Funeral Arrangers directory are allowed to book funerals.

Note: Leicester City Council will send the invoice to the Funeral Arranger you mention on the application form. He will in turn invoice the deceased family.

Weekday funerals

Once the Applicant has obtained the green DISPOSAL CERTIFICATE from the Registrars or a white  BURIAL ORDER from the Coroners office the Funeral Arranger is to take the applicant (who should be a member of the deceased immediate family) to the Cemeteries Office based at Gilrose Cemetery.

Once the forms at the Cemeteries Department have been completed the officer will then arrange the booking of a grave and confirm the family’s preferred burial time.

Prompt payment of Council bills

It is essential for all Funeral Arrangers to accept responsibility and ensure that applicants pay the Burial Bill from Leicester City Council promptly. Consistent delays will jeopardise this invoicing facility with the Council.

For addresses and contact numbers for the Leicester City Council Cemeteries Department see section under Contacts.