Registering a death in Magherafelt

It is a legal requirement that all deaths occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered. A death should be registered as soon as possible to allow funeral arrangements to go ahead but no later than five days from the date of occurrence except where the matter has been referred to the Coroner. The five day period may be extended to fourteen if the Registrar is notified in writing of the death and supplied with a medical certificate of the cause.

The following may register a death:

• Any relative, including a relative by marriage, of the deceased who has knowledge of the details required to be registered;
• A person present at the death;
• The executor or administrator of the deceased's estate;
• The governor, matron, superintendent or chief officer of a public building where the death occurred;
• A person living in and responsible for a house, lodgings or apartments where the death occurred;
• A person finding the body;
• A person taking charge of the body;
• A person taking care of the funeral arrangements.

The following information is required:

• Full name and surname of the deceased;
• Date and place of death and the deceased's usual address;
• Marital status (single, married, widowed or divorced);
• Date and place of birth;
• Occupation of the deceased (if the deceased was a wife or a widow, the full names and occupation of her husband (or deceased husband) will be required. If the deceased was a child, the full names and occupation of the father will be required, or where the parents are not married the full names and occupation of the mother will be required);
• Maiden surname (if the deceased was a woman who had married);
• Whether the deceased was getting a naval or military pension, or other pension or allowance from public funds;
• If possible, details of the pension or allowance ahould be made available to the Registrar; and
• The deceased's medical card or National Health Number.

The person registering the death must give these details to the Registrar along with a medical certificate of the cause of death. This certificate is issued by a doctor who had treated the deceased within twenty eight days before the date of death.

If a doctor within had not seen the deceased that period or where death was not caused by natural illness the case would have to be referred to the Coroner.

The death may be registered with the Registrar of the District in which the person either:

• Died; or
• Normally lived just before death.