Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Only "qualified informants", in the order of priority set by sections 16 and 17 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. Relatives and partners who were present at the death or in attendance during the last illness come first, then relatives and partners living in the sub-district, then personal representatives, anyone present at the death and the occupier of the house, then other residents and the person arranging the disposal of the body. Since 9 September 2024 an unmarried partner and a personal representative both qualify in their own right.
In England and Wales, only certain people are legally allowed to register a death. These individuals are known as "qualified informants" and there's a clear order of priority the registrar must follow.
What changed in September 2024:
On 9 September 2024 the statutory list was widened. "The partner of the deceased" was added alongside "relative" at the top two tiers, and "any personal representative of the deceased" was added as a category of its own. An unmarried partner or an executor no longer has to squeeze into another category to qualify.
Important: You cannot simply nominate anyone to register a death on your behalf. The person must be a qualified informant as defined by law.
Section 16 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 applies where the person died in a house — and section 41 defines "house" to include a public institution, so a hospital, hospice, prison or care home counts. The duty falls on each tier in turn, and only passes down when there is nobody in the tier above.
One tier, not two. "Relative" includes relatives by marriage or civil partnership. "Partner" was added on 9 September 2024 and covers an unmarried partner.
This applies where nobody in the first tier exists — a relative or partner who was not present at the death or during the last illness, but who is in the sub-district.
These three sit in the same tier. "Personal representative" — an executor or administrator — was added on 9 September 2024. "Occupier" of a public institution includes its governor, master, matron, superintendent or other chief resident officer.
The last tier. "The person causing the disposal of the body" is the person arranging the funeral.
Section 17 covers a death somewhere other than a house, or a body found where the place of death is not known. The qualified informants there are: a relative or partner who knows any of the particulars to be registered; a personal representative; anyone present at the death; anyone finding or taking charge of the body; and the person causing the disposal of the body. The relative or partner has first duty; if there is none, the duty falls on each of the others.
In practice: only one qualified informant needs to register. Sections 16 and 17 both say that once one has given the information and signed the register, the duty on every other qualified informant is discharged. If your situation is unusual, phone the register office and explain it.
Section 41 of the Act does not set out a list. It says only that "relative" includes a relative by marriage or civil partnership — so relatives by blood are covered as a matter of ordinary meaning, and in-laws and step-relations are brought in expressly. Spouses, civil partners, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews are all relatives.
Unmarried partners: since 9 September 2024 you do not need to be a "relative" at all. Section 41(2) says a person is the partner of the person who died if "the two of them (whether of different sexes or the same sex) were living as partners in an enduring relationship at the time of the deceased person's death". A partner in that sense is a qualified informant in the top tier, on the same footing as a relative.
If there is no relative or partner, the duty passes down the statutory tiers:
When families are estranged or there are disputes about who should register:
The registrar will accept the first qualified informant who comes forward with the required documents. They cannot refuse to register based on family disputes.
If you're concerned about who might register, try to be the first to make contact with the registrar's office.
If you were living with someone who wasn't your spouse or civil partner, you are very likely a qualified informant in your own right, and in the top tier. Section 41(2) of the Act defines a partner as someone who was "living as partners in an enduring relationship" with the person at the time of their death. If you were present at the death or in attendance during their last illness, you are in tier 1; if not, but you are in the sub-district where the death happened, you are in tier 2.
Older guidance — including earlier versions of this page — said cohabiting partners were not qualified informants unless they fitted another category. That stopped being true on 9 September 2024.
For deaths that occurred outside the UK:
The Act does not require you to produce documents to prove you are a qualified informant — you give the information to the best of your knowledge and belief and sign the register. In practice a registrar may ask for:
Top Tip: Call the registrar's office before your appointment to confirm exactly what they'll need to see. Requirements can vary slightly between offices.
Technically, only one person needs to register the death, but:
Important: Let the registrar know in advance if multiple people will attend, as some offices have small appointment rooms.
If you want to help but don't qualify to register the death yourself:
You can attend the appointment with the qualified informant to provide support and help answer questions.
Help collect the required documents and information that the informant will need.
Book the appointment, liaise with the funeral director, and handle other practical tasks.
When someone dies in institutional care, special rules may apply:
A hospital is a "public institution", and section 41 makes that a "house" for these purposes — so section 16 applies in the normal way. Relatives and partners come first. The "occupier" of a hospital is its chief resident officer, and they sit in the third tier, only reached if there is no relative or partner.
The same order applies. The person in charge of the home is the "occupier" and sits in the third tier, below relatives, partners and personal representatives. Homes will usually contact family first; if you want to register yourself, tell them straight away.
A hospice is treated the same way as a hospital. Relatives and partners have priority.
Yes, adult children are qualified informants regardless of whether parents are still living.
An executor or administrator is a "personal representative", which was added to the statutory list on 9 September 2024 — so being the personal representative is now enough on its own. They sit below relatives and partners in the order of priority. A solicitor who is not a personal representative does not qualify simply by acting for the family.
If you have necessary information but aren't a qualified informant, share it with someone who is, or attend the appointment with them.
Sections 16 and 17 set no minimum age. In practice registrars usually prefer an adult informant. If you are under 18 and there is nobody else, phone the register office and explain the situation.
Different rules, and no order of priority in the same statutory sense. National Records of Scotland says a death can be registered by any relative, including a relative by marriage or civil partnership; any person present at the death; an executor or other legal representative; or the person in charge of the care home, hospital or other institution where the death happened. If none of them can, any other person may register. A funeral director can act as informant on someone's behalf if asked. The deadline is 8 days from the date of death, and you can register at any registration office in Scotland.
NIDirect lists the people who can register as: any relative of the person who died, including a relative by marriage; a person present at the death; a person taking care of the funeral arrangements; the executor or administrator of the estate; the governor, matron or chief officer of a public building where the death happened; a person living in and responsible for a house, lodgings or apartments where the death happened; and a person finding, or taking charge of, the body. A death should be registered within five days, at any district registration office in Northern Ireland.
If you're unsure whether you qualify to register a death, or if your situation is complicated:
Only 'qualified informants' can register a death. In England and Wales, section 16 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 sets the order for a death in a house or institution: first a relative or the partner of the person who died who was present at the death or in attendance during the last illness; then a relative or partner in the sub-district; then a personal representative, anyone present at the death, or the occupier of the house who knew of the death; then any other resident of the house, or the person causing the disposal of the body. Unmarried partners have been expressly qualified since 9 September 2024.
Yes. Since 9 September 2024 'the partner of the deceased' is expressly a qualified informant, in the same top tier as a relative. Section 41(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 defines a partner as someone who was 'living as partners in an enduring relationship' with the person at the time of their death, whether of the same sex or not. Guidance written before that date, saying cohabiting partners do not qualify, is out of date.
The Act does not require you to produce documents to prove you qualify — you give the information to the best of your knowledge and belief and sign the register in the registrar's presence. In practice registrars may ask for your own photo ID, and for something showing your relationship or address. Call the register office beforehand to ask what they want to see.
Yes, as long as you're a qualified informant. The death is registered in the district where it happened, but section 23A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 lets you make and sign a declaration before a registrar elsewhere, who sends it to the right district. Your certificates take longer to arrive that way. Tell Us Once is not a registration service — it is a separate service you use after the death has been registered.
The duty passes down the statutory tiers: a personal representative, anyone present at the death, or the occupier of the house who knew of the death; then any other resident of the house, or the person arranging the funeral. For a hospital or care home, the 'occupier' is its chief resident officer. Under section 36 of the Act, only a person on whom the duty falls under section 16(3)(a) or 17(3)(a) — the first tier — commits an offence by not giving the information, and the maximum penalty is a fine at level 1 on the standard scale, currently £200.
One qualified informant registers the death and signs the register. Sections 16 and 17 say that once one has done so, the duty on every other qualified informant is discharged, so a second signature has no legal effect. Others can come to the appointment for support, or to help with details the informant does not know. Let the register office know in advance if several people will attend.
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