Register a death
Overview
After someone dies, a medical examiner will check the cause of death to make sure it's accurate. They will be a senior doctor and they will not have been involved in the care of the person who has died.
The medical examiner's office will then contact you to:
- explain the cause of death
- answer any questions you have about this or the healthcare provided to the person before they died
This is voluntary and you do not have to speak to them.
Registering the death
You'll also be contacted by the medical examiner's office to confirm you can register the death. Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland) of being contacted. This includes weekends and bank holidays.
If the death has been referred to the coroner, they will inform you when you are able to make an appointment to register the death.
If the death occurred in South Tyneside, you can register it at South Shields Register Office.
To make an appointment, call 0191 427 7000.
For information on opening times, see South Shields Register Office.