How much does a death certificate cost?

£12.50 per certified copy in England & Wales at the time of writing. Copies ordered later cost the same but take longer.

Process · 4 min read

Registering a death: what to take and what you get

Registration is a short appointment, but you cannot progress anything else without it. Turning up with the right paperwork saves a second visit.

Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.

Who can register

A relative of the deceased
Someone present at the death
An occupant or official of the building where the death occurred
The person arranging the funeral, though not the funeral director themselves

What to take

The medical certificate of cause of death, usually sent to the register office electronically
The deceased's full name, including any maiden name, and date and place of birth
Their last address and occupation
Details of a surviving spouse or civil partner
NHS number or medical card if you have it

Doing this yourself?

Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.

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What you leave with

Document	Purpose
Certified copies of the death certificate	Proof of death for banks, pensions and the probate application
Certificate for burial or cremation	Given to the funeral director
Tell Us Once reference	Notifies government departments in one step

If the coroner is involved

Where a death is referred to the coroner, registration waits until they release the case. An interim certificate of the fact of death is usually available and is accepted for a probate application.

GOV.UK — Register a death

Common questions

How much does a death certificate cost?: £12.50 per certified copy in England & Wales at the time of writing. Copies ordered later cost the same but take longer.

Not sure whether this estate is straightforward?

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