What to Do When Death Occurs

After notifying key family members, the next step is to get in touch with us to inform us of their passing. We will take some initial details and arrange their transfer into our care. Please do not worry if you do not have all of the following information to hand when you call us. The funeral director will advise you at each stage of the process and you can contact us later with further information.

Here is a list of the key information we will ask you when you call our office:

• The full name of the person who has died
• Their date of birth
• The full address of their last residence
• Details of their place of death
• Their GP's name and surgery details
• If they had expressed a wish for a cremation or burial
• Whether they have a pacemaker
• Your details and their next of kin details (if different)
• If they have a funeral plan in place

If your loved one died at home or the death was expected, their GP may be able to issue the certificate, as long as they recently saw them. They may give you the certificate in person, or you may be asked to collect the certificate from the GP surgery.

In the event that the cause of death is unknown or deemed suspicious by the doctor, the coroner’s office will be contacted to conduct an investigation into the cause of death. If the coroner is involved, you cannot register the death until the coroner has issued supporting documentation.

To register the death you will need to take the medical certificate of cause of death to a pre-arranged appointment, at a registry office in the district where they died, and within 5 days of them passing in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.  

After registering the death, you will be issued a Death Certificate and the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (green form). Once these have been issued and you have passed the green form to the funeral directors the funeral service can officially take place once the funeral arrangements have been finalised.

For full details of how to register the death please go to our guide here.

The Registrar Office for Births, Deaths and Marriages
Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
SY2 6ND

Open: Monday to Friday: 9.15am to 4:30pm (closed on bank holidays) 

To book an appointment please call the main support line on 0345 678 9016 or visit the website here.

To book an appointment at one of the above registration service points, please call the main Shropshire registrar team on: 0345 678 9016

Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one place. Please ask the registrar when you book the appointment and they can give you further information. View our full guide here.