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Documentation required | Funeral directors | Help with funeral expenses from the DSS | Professional Associations | Registration | When a death occurs

Who may give particulars to Registrar

All deaths occurring in Scotland must be registered by a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The duty to provide the particulars for registration rests principally with a relative of the deceased. But if no such relative is available, the duty may be performed by any person present at the death, or the deceased's executor or other legal representative or the occupier of the premises where the death took place.

Place of Registration

Registration must be made in the office of the Registrar for the registration district in which the death took place unless the deceased's home address was in a different registration district in Scotland. In that case registration may be made in either of these districts, whichever is more convenient.

Particulars Required

1. The full name, occupation and postal address of the deceased person, and his or her date and place of birth;

2. If deceased was a married man or a widow or divorced, the name of his wife or former wife; and if deceased was a married woman or a widow or divorced the full name and occupation of her husband or former husband. If the deceased had been married more than once, particulars of previous spouses are also required.

3. If deceased was married at the date of death, the age of the surviving widow or widower;

4. The full name and occupation of the deceased person's father, and the full name and maiden surname of the deceased's mother;

5. The name and address of the deceased's National Health Service Doctor.

Documents Required

The following documents should be taken to the Registrar's Office.

a) Any book, certificate or document relating to any pension or allowance which the deceased received from public funds;

b) The medical certificate of the cause of death (normally given by the deceased person's doctor, or by the hospital in which the death occurred);

c) The deceased's National Health Service medical card, if available;

d) The deceased's birth certificate, if available.

Issued on the authority of the Registrar General for Scotland