West Lothian Council delivers

After I have registered a death, what forms will the Registrar give me to take home?

You will be given a Certificate of Registration of Death (form 14). This must be given to the undertaker dealing with the funeral arrangements. You will also get a Benefits Agency Certificate of Registration of Death for DSS purposes, to help in organising pensions, benefits, tax credits and so on.

Can a burial take place before the death has been registered?

A burial can take place before the death is registered. However, the death must be registered before a cremation can take place.

Can a cremation take place before the death is registered?

No, the death must be registered before a cremation can take place.

Do I get an original death certificate free of charge?

After a death registration you will be given a form for the Funeral Director and a form for the Benefits Agency free of charge. Death certificates required for other purposes, such as banks or insurance companies, must be purchased. Certificates purchased at the time or within the current year of registration, cost less than those which are purchased later. A PDF document detailing all Registration fees payable can be found on our main Birth, Marriage and Death page of this site.

Do I need to attend in person to obtain a death certificate?

No, you do not have to attend in person to obtain a death certificate, but you do need to attend in person to register a death. You may order certificates by telephone using a debit or credit card, by post using a cheque or postal order, or by asking someone to call into the appropriate registration office on your behalf. A death certificate purchased at the time or within the current year of registration costs less than those purchased anytime thereafter, however if you purchase more than one at once, the second and subsequent copies are cheaper. In addition if you already have a death certificate, then you can obtain an additional one at a slightly reduced price if the original is produced to the registrar at the time of ordering.

Do I need to make an appointment if I want to register a death?

You do not need to make an appointment if you go to the Registration offices in Bathgate, Livingston or East Calder. An appointment is required if you wish to go to Broxburn, Linlithgow, West Calder or Whitburn.

How long do I have to register a death?

All deaths in Scotland must be registered within 8 days of occurrence.

How much does it cost to register a death?

There is no fee to register a death. You will be issued with a form for the Funeral Director and a form for the Benefits Agency free of charge. Any other death certificates purchased at the time or within the current year of registration incur a small cost. A PDF document detailing all Registration fees payable can be found on our main Birth, Marriage and Death page of this site.

I have lost the green form for the Benefits Agency when I registered a death. Can I get another one?

No, the law does not permit a registrar to issue more than one copy of this form. If the Benefits Agency insist that you produce a death certificate then unfortunately you will have to purchase an extract of the entry. Certificates purchased at the time or within the current year of registration, incur a small fee.

If I am unable to provide the necessary documentation, what information does the Registrar need in order to register a death?

If you are unable to provide the registrar with the necessary documentation, the registrar will require the following information about the deceased, in order to register the death: full name, date, and place of birth; occupation; address; the full names of all spouses and civil partners and their occupations; father's full name and usual occupation; mother's full name, maiden name and usual occupation; name and address of their registered NHS doctor.

If someone who normally lives in Scotland dies outside Scotland, where should I register the death?

You should register the death according to local regulations in the country concerned, and obtain a certificate of death. You may also be able to register the death with the British Consul in that country for a fee and a record of the death will be sent to Scotland. However, there is no obligation for you to register the death with the British Consul. If you do, you would be able to obtain a copy of the death certificate from New Register House.

My common law spouse has died, can I register his/her death?

A death can be registered by any relative of the deceased, or any person present when the person died, or the deceased's executor or other legal representative, or the occupier of the premises where the person died. You may be permitted to register your partner's death providing you were both living at the same address and there are no other qualified informants as detailed previously.

Should I expect the medical certificate of cause of death to be returned to me?

No. The medical certificate of cause of death is given to you solely for the purpose of registering the death. The Registrar will keep this certificate.

Someone who is normally resident outside Scotland died whilst on holiday here. Where do I register his death?

If someone dies in Scotland, the death must be reigistered in Scotland and can be registered at any Scottish Registration office. Please note that it is illegal for the body to be buried or cremated without certain specified documents being issued.

The person who died has been married more than once. Do I need details of their previous spouses in order to register the death?

Yes, you do need to provide details of previous spouses in order to register the death of a person who has been married before. In the case of a woman married more than once, the names and occupations of previous husbands should be recorded. In the case of a man married more than once, the name, maiden surname and former married surnames of any previous wives, and their occupations, if applicable, should be recorded.

What documents will I receive when I register a death?

After the death has been registered, the registrar will give you the following documents : a Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14), which is required by the undertaker, free of charge. A form (334 S1), which is needed for obtaining or adjusting Social Security Benefits and for National Insurance purpose, free of charge and an abbreviated extract free of charge. The deceased's bank, life insurance, shares, mortgage, superannuation and so on, may require a full extract of the details entered in the Register, or a certificate; these are available for a small fee per copy and you may purchase as many certificates as you wish. A PDF document detailing all Registration fees payable can be found on our main Birth, Marriage and Death page of this site.

Why do you need such detailed information about the deceased person's relatives in order to register their death?

The information required for a death registration is laid down by law. The Registrar General uses this information for statistical purposes and, of course, it provides a valuable genealogical resource for future generations.