You can only register a death once we have received this paperwork from the Medical Examiner's Office.
Before you can register a death
After a death, the Medical Examiner's Office or Coroner will complete the paperwork needed before the death can be registered.
If the Coroner holds an inquest, you don't need to register the death yourself.
But in most cases, someone from the Medical Examiner's Office will contact the family or next of kin. They'll explain the cause of death and answer any questions. They will then send the paperwork to us.
- Once we receive it, we'll contact the person they tell us is registering the death with details about the next steps.
- We'll send them an email containing details of how to book an appointment to register the death. If they don't have an email address, we'll call them instead.
A death must normally be registered within five days of us receiving the paperwork.
To register a stillbirth is a different process. Find out more.
How to register a death
You can register a death:
- in person at Manchester Register Office; or
- over the telephone.
If you wish to register a death by telephone, email register.office@manchester.gov.uk. Include your details, the details of the person who died, and your relationship to them.
A death can usually be registered by:
- a relative of the person who died
- a partner of the person who died, even if they were not legally married or in a civil partnership
- someone arranging the funeral
- someone who was present at the death
- the owner, manager or matron of a care home or nursing home where the death occurred
- a hospital administrator where the death occurred.
What you can expect to happen
The registrar will record the information needed to register the death.
They will explain how to order death certificates and how to use the Tell Us Once service. It's a free service that lets you report a death to most government organisations at the same time.
Check the information carefully
The registrar will read the information back to you and ask you to confirm the details are correct.
Names, dates and places must be recorded correctly.
Correcting a registration later can cost £83 or £99 and may delay the funeral.
It may help to have these things with you
- a passport
- a birth certificate
- a marriage or civil partnership certificate
- a driving licence.
You don't need them to register a death. But they can help to make sure names, dates and places are recorded correctly.
If a burial needs to take place within 24 hours of death for religious reasons
We may be able to issue the paperwork you need for the funeral before the death is registered.
Find out more about urgent burials.
Register a death that happened elsewhere in England or Wales
If you need to register the death of somebody who died elsewhere in England or Wales, you can register it by declaration at Manchester Register Office.
The information you provide will be sent to the register office in the area where the death occurred.
Any death certificates will be issued by that register office.
To arrange a registration by declaration, email registeroffice@manchester.gov.uk.