Community and living

If the death has taken place in Croydon, it needs to be registered at the Croydon Register Office. To register a death, please make an appointment.

You may register a death at any register office in England or Wales. However, if you register a death in a district other than where the death took place, it can slow down the registration process significantly.

Please note that all deaths must be registered within five days of the death taking place unless a coroner is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the death.

Who can register a death?

If the person died in a house or hospital:

• a relative
• someone present at the death
• an occupant of the house where the death took place
• an official from the hospital where the death took place
• the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.

If the death took place anywhere else:

• a relative
• someone present at the death
• the person who found the body
• the person in charge of the body
• the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.

What to bring with you to the appointment

You will need to bring the following to your appointment:

• a medical certificate issued by a doctor showing the cause of death (if the death has been referred to a coroner, the coroner's office will advise you what to do)
• information about when and where the death occurred
• the full name of the deceased, including maiden name/s if applicable
• the deceased's date and place of birth
• the deceased's occupation
• the deceased's address
• if the deceased was a married woman, the full name and occupation of the deceased's husband

Charges

Registering a death is free of charge. You will be given a document which allows you to arrange the burial or cremation and a certificate for social security purposes.

If you need copies of the death registration, for example for probate, access to bank accounts, etc. a fee of £3.50 per copy is payable to the registrar.

What to do if you need urgent assistance

If you need urgent assistance, for example outside of normal office hours or if a burial must take place within 24 hours for pressing reasons, contact the main switchboard at Taberner House. Security staff will contact a duty registrar on your behalf, and the registrar will contact you.

Making an appointment

To make an appointment to register a death, or for further information, please telephone or call in. To book an appointment online, visit our Registrar eBookings website.

Contact Details

Contact name

Croydon Register Office

Telephone

020 8726 6300

Fax

020 8760 5633

Email

register.office@croydon.gov.uk

Address

Croydon Register Office
Mint Walk
Croydon CR0 1EA

Opening times
Monday - Friday 9.30 am to 4.30pm.