Register a death
You can register a death in Swindon once the medical examiner has confirmed it can be registered. You must register the death within five days, including weekends and bank holidays.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death confirms the cause of death. It is sent directly to Swindon Register Office.
If the death happened outside Swindon
You must register the death in the council area where the person died.
These places are not in the borough of Swindon:
- Cricklade, Purton, Marlborough, Broad Hinton, Aldbourne and Royal Wootton Bassett – register the death in Wiltshire.
- Watchfield, Faringdon and Shrivenham – register the death in Oxfordshire.
You can also check the council area where the death happened on GOV.UK.
Before you book an appointment
Wait until we tell you to book. Do not book an appointment before this.
We may cancel your appointment if:
- we have not advised you to book
- the hospital or GP surgery has not confirmed the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been sent to us
If you cannot come to Swindon Register Office within five days, you can give the details to another register office. They will send the information to us so we can complete the registration in Swindon.
Who can register the death
You can register the death if you are:
- a relative who was present when the person died
- a relative who was present during the person’s last illness
- a relative living in the registration district
- someone who was present when the person died but is not a relative
- the occupier of the place where the death happened, if they know about the death
- the person arranging the funeral (not the funeral director)
- the partner of the person who died, if you were living together
- a personal representative, for example a solicitor acting for the family
In some circumstances, other people can register the death.
If more than one appointment is booked for the same death, we will complete the registration at the first appointment. We will cancel any others.
What happens at the appointment
You will meet the registrar in private. They will ask you for details about the person who died.
You must check the information carefully before you sign the register. Make sure everything is correct.
Information you need to give
We will ask for:
- date and place of death
- full name
- any previous names, including maiden name if this applies
- date and place of birth
- occupation
- address
- full name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner, if they had one
- NHS number or medical card, if available
- details of benefits they were receiving, for example State Pension
You also need to give your own name and address.
Documents to bring
Bring these documents if you have them:
- birth certificate of the person who died
- marriage or civil partnership certificate of the person who died
- NHS medical card of the person who died
Book an appointment
Book an appointment to register a death
After the appointment
The registrar will explain which documents you can get after the death has been registered.
They will also explain the Tell Us Once service. This lets you report a death to most government organisations and some council services at the same time.
Contact the Register Office
Contact the Register Office if you need advice before registering a death.