Death Certificates

This website exists to help you obtain official replacement Death Certificate as quickly and as easily as possible.

If you have begun or thinking of researching your family tree below is the information you will find on the death certificates.

All death certificates obtained and supplied are full certified copies for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
 

The registration of deaths in United Kingdom began in 1837. The death certificate records when and where a person died, the forename and surname, sex, date of birth (or age on older certificates), occupation, resident address, cause of death, and information about the person who reported the death. In 1874, a doctor’s certificate was necessary for the issuance of a death certificate. Prior to 1874, no cause of death needed to be given. Stillbirths had to be registered only after 1927, and it was not until 1960 that a cause of death was to be recorded.

If you have begun or thinking of researching your family tree below is the information you will find on the death certificates.

On 1st April 1969, the law relating to death registrations was amended following in a change to the format of a death certificate. The information below relates to deaths registered before 1st April 1969.

Column 1: When and where died

• The date and address of the place of death is recorded here. If the death occurred in a prison or mental institution this will not be indicated and the address of the establishment will be stated.

Column 2: Name and surname

• The name given to the registrar by the informant. This is the name the deceased was using at the time of death, not always the name they were given at birth.

Column 3: Sex

• Male or female.

Column 4: Age

• The informant gives the deceased’s age at the time of death to the best of their knowledge and it is possible that this may be inaccurate.
• The age can assist when calculating a year of birth for the deceased.

Column 5: Occupation

• Last known occupation
• If the deceased is a married woman or widow, the words ‘wife (or widow) of’, followed by the name, surname and occupation of her husband or late husband.
• If the deceased is a divorced woman, the words ‘formerly the wife of’, followed by the name, surname and occupation of her ex-husband.
• If the deceased is a spinster, the words ‘spinster, daughter of’, will be followed by the name, surname and occupation of her father.
• If the deceased is a child under the age of 15, the words ‘son (or daughter) of’ is usually followed by the father’s name and occupation.
• If the death occurred elsewhere than the usual place of residence, the word ‘of’ is followed by the usual address details of the deceased.

Column 6: Cause of death

• This could include detailed information if an inquest has occurred.

Column 7: Signature, description and residence of informant

• This may have been marked with an ‘X’ to represent the informant‘s signature. After 1875, the relationship of the informant to the deceased was given, which gives further clues for family history research.

Column 8: When registered

• The date when the death was registered.

Column 9: Signature of registrar

• If a death was registered over a year late, the signature of the superintendent will also feature with ‘on the authority of the Registrar General’.