The death must be registered in the District Register Office where it occurred.

The Register Offices for Alnwick District are located at;

Alnwick
Address:   The Mechanics Institute, Percy Street, Alnwick NE66 1AE 
Telephone:  (01665) 606538
Email:  alnwickreg@northumberland.gov.uk
Fax:  (01665) 606538
Opening Times:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm (By appointment)

Amble
Address:   73 Queen Street, Amble, Morpeth NE65 0DA 
Telephone:  (01665) 710744
Email:  alnwickreg@northumberland.gov.uk
Opening Times:
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 11.00 am to 12.30 pm

Rothbury
Address:   Court House, Front Street, Rothbury, Morpeth NE65 7TZ 
Telephone:  (01669) 620171
Email:  alnwickreg@northumberland.gov.uk
Opening Times:
Monday 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm,
Wednesday 10.00 am to 11.00 am
Friday 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm

Opening Times

Monday – Friday
9.00am – 4.00pm

It is also possible to make a declaration to register the death before any Registrar in England and Wales to be posted to the Register Office for the district where the death took place. If you choose to do this there could well be a delay in the funeral arrangements and in receiving documents.

Home Visits

Home visits to register a birth, death or still birth are entirely at the discretion of the Registrar, and are subject to many and varied criteria. Please contact Registrars (details above) for further details.

When does the Death need to be Registered?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a death should be registered within five days of its happening. Registration can be delayed for a further nine days provided the Registrar receives, in writing, confirmation that a medical certificate of the cause of death has been signed by the doctor.

Who can Register the Death?

People with legal responsibility to register include:

· a relative of the deceased
· a person present at the death
· a person arranging the funeral - This does NOT mean the funeral director.

In certain circumstances others, such as the administrator of an elderly persons home, can register a death, for advice please contact the Register Office.

What is needed to Register the Death?

The Registrar will interview you in private and will need to know the following information:

· the date and place of death.

· the full name and surname, and maiden surname if the person who has died was a married woman.

· the date and place of birth.

· the occupation and, if the deceased person was a married woman or widow the full name and occupation of her husband.

· the usual address.

· if the person who has died was married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse.

· whether the person who has died was receiving a pension from public funds.

You will need to bring:

· the medical certificate of cause of death issued by the doctor treating the person who has died. This is essential - the Registrar can do nothing without it. If the death has been referred to the Coroner, the Coroner's Office will advise you what to do.

· if the deceased received a pension or allowance from public funds, eg. Civil Service or Army Pensions, please inform the Registrar.

The Registrar will enter all these details into a computer system and will then give you the opportunity to check they are correct. The information will then be written into a register. This is the "original" legal record and you should check it through very carefully before signing it, as any mistakes discovered later on may be difficult to correct.

What Documents Will I Receive?

· a "Green Form" which enables you to arrange the funeral (If the Coroner is involved different procedures may apply).

· you will also be given a form for Social Security purposes.

Both of these documents are issued free