A Guide to Registering a Death

A Guide to Registering a Death

Specialist Solicitors in Probate, Estate Administration, Tax Advice and Wills If you have suffered a bereavement, you may be wondering what to do once you have registered the death of the person who has died. Our lawyers have vast experience in dealing with bereavements and the legal effect of them, whether it be administering the whole estate or if you have specific questions.

Toby Fountaine Head of Private Client

Emma Howlett Specialist Probate Lawyer

We are here to help. Please call us on 020 3553 6048 Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6RD or by appointment at your home.

We understand that the death of a loved one is a very difficult time and immediately following the death there are a number of arrangements you will have to make. The information contained in this brochure will help to guide you through the different things that you will need to do.

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4 A Guide to Registering a Death

How to register a death in Kensington and Chelsea

Who can register? You can register if you are:

A death should be registered within five days from when it occurred.The registration should take place in the district where the death occurred. How do I register? • Deaths occurring in Kensington and Chelsea are usually registered at the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office by appointment only. • Deaths must be registered in person by a family member, someone who was present at the death or someone who is arranging the funeral. •Visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars to see the most up to date guidance on how to register. •You can book an appointment online by visiting our website: www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars . • If you live in another district, you can attend your local register office to make a legal declaration.This is a slower process and you will have to wait a few days for the paperwork to be issued.

• a close relative • someone present at the death • making the arrangements with the funeral directors

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6 A Guide to Registering a Death

What documents do I need? The medical certificate signed by a doctor is an essential document. Information you need to register

• the person’s full name at the time of death and any names previously used, eg maiden name • the person’s date and place of birth

During the Coronavirus Pandemic, the government allowed doctors to scan the medical certificate directly to the registrar. This may be the case when you register, but it is possible that this has changed and you will need to bring the signed copy of the medical certificate to your appointment with you. If the Coroner is involved, they may send the paperwork directly to the register office. In this case, the Coroner will tell you when to register.

• their last address • their occupation

• the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner • whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits

The following documents are useful, but you can register without them:

• the person’s passport • their birth certificate

• any deed polls they had • their NHS medical card • their marriage or civil partnership certificate

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8 A Guide to Registering a Death

What documents will I receive?

• Council Housing • Council Tax • Libraries

When you register a death, you will receive the following: • A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the green form) – gives permission for burial or application for cremation. • If you have registered by telephone, this form will be sent directly to the funeral director. In some cases, the Coroner will issue this document directly to the funeral director. • Death Certificates are purchased when you book your appointment. You can purchase further copies at any time through our website www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars . • A reference number to use the Tell Us Once Service – a free and highly recommended service which will inform government agencies and local authorities of the deceased’s death, all in one go. Included within the service:

Department forWork and Pensions • Pension, Disability and Carers Service • Jobcentre Plus HM Revenue and Customs • Child Benefit • Child Tax Credit andWorking Tax Credit • Personal Taxation

Identity and Passport Service

Driver andVehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA )

Public Sector Pension Schemes Ministry of Defence, Service Personnel andVeterans Agency •War Pensions Scheme You will also receive a Certificate of Registration of Death (BD8) – you may need to complete this if you choose not to use the Tell Us Once Service.

Local Authority • Housing Benefit Office • Council Tax Benefit Office • Electoral Services • Blue Badge

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10 A Guide to Registering a Death

Who else do you need to contact? When someone dies you may have to contact a variety of organisations to inform them of the death.You may have to send some of them a death certificate. You can use the following as a checklist to see if you have contacted everyone you need: q Accountant q Bank/building society q Benefits agency * q Child benefit office * q Household insurance q Income tax office * q Insurance providers q Internet provider q Landlord q Library * q Life assurance

q Mail for redirection q Mortgage provider q Motoring insurance and breakdown policy q National savings and Investments q NHS equipment wheelchairs, hearing aids etc.) q Passport Office * q Public Pension Schemes * q Pension plans (private pensions) q Premium bond office q Private healthcare provider q Relatives and friends q Solicitor q TV licence q Telephone provider- landline and mobile q Utilities (gas, electricity, water) * These providers will be included in the Tell Us Once Service

q Child’s school, or childcare provider q Church or other place of worship q Clubs and social groups q Council tax office * q Credit card companies q Creditors (anyone owed money by the deceased) q Debtors (anyone owing money to the deceased) q Dentist q Disabled parking permit *

q Doctors q DVLA * q Employers q Home help agency q Hospital clinics

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12 A Guide to Registering a Death

Deaths referred to the coroner • Deaths referred to the coroner must also be registered within 5 days, or within 7 days if there has been a post-mortem.

What do you need to do to register a Stillbirth When a child is stillborn, a doctor or midwife will issue a medical certificate of stillbirth.The person who registers the stillbirth must take this certificate to the Registrar. Who can register a Stillbirth? If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of the stillbirth, either the mother or the father may register. If the parents were not married to each other they will need to register together in order for the father’s details to be recorded. A certificate of Registration will be issued and a certificate for burial or cremation. An appointment is booked by visiting our website www.rbkc.gov.uk/ registrars .

• If the coroner decides the death was due to natural causes, you will need to follow the normal procedure by booking an appointment at www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars . • If a post-mortem is carried out and the coroner decides that the death was due to natural causes, the coroner will send the essential documentation for registration to the Register Office.A person who can register the death, listed on page 5, will need to book an appointment to register. • If an inquest is held, the coroner will send the information from the court to the register office so you do not have to come to register the death.

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14 A Guide to Registering a Death “ She’s my lovely blue angel. ”

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Other Information Inheritance Tax and probate Phone Call HMRC for advice on probate and Inheritance Tax following a death, including: • understanding your Inheritance Tax responsibilities • confirming the forms you need • getting paper copies of forms • completing Inheritance Tax forms Telephone: 0300 123 1072 Outside UK: +44 300 123 1072 Opening times: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Closed weekends and bank holidays Post Write to HMRC with queries and correspondence about Inheritance Tax. You don’t need to include a street name, city name or PO box when writing to this address.

and date of death of the person who has died. Cruse Bereavement Care Grief is a natural process, but it can be devastating. For those who need help, Cruse offers free confidential support for adults and children, and this can be by telephone, email or face-to-face. Helpline Cruse Bereavement Care is here to support you after the death of someone close. If someone you know has died and you need to talk, call us freephone on 0808 808 1677. The helpline is open Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm (excluding bank holidays), with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when we’re open until 8pm. [email protected] Face-to-face and group support is delivered by trained bereavement volunteers across England,Wales and Northern Ireland. Kensington and Chelsea Register Office Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, London SW3 5EE Tel: 0207 361 4100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars

Probate forms should be sent to your local Probate Registry.

Inheritance Tax HM Revenue and Customs BX9 1HT United Kingdom

Please give the HMRC reference number, or tell HMRC the full name

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Bereavement Notification Service FREE from Co-op Legal Services Our Bereavement Notification Service offers practical support and guidance when dealing with the affairs of a loved one who has died. Our service removes the burden of researching what steps to take next, let us guide you. Our free services can help you with: • Notifying financial institutions • Stopping unwanted mail

• Managing social media accounts • Notifying insurance providers • Initial identification of family law issues • Initial inquest guidance Where further assistance is required for these services, you can speak with one of our lawyers. If legal assistance is required, this can be arranged for a

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The Co-op Bereavement Notification and Advice Service is provided by Co-op Legal Services. Co-op Legal Services is a trading name of Co-operative Legal Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. All paid for legal advice will be subject to our terms and conditions.

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