A death occurring in Scotland must be registered within 8 days.
When someone dies in Scotland, the death can be registered anywhere in Scotland. No burial or cremation can take place until the death has been registered.
Death registrations can be registered remotely over the telephone. A telephone appointment can be more convenient for you.
If you would prefer to come into an office, you can book an in-person appointment at one of the following offices: Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes or Kirkcaldy.
To register a death you will need:
- Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11) issued by a doctor or hospital or the serial number
- Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11) must be signed by the certifying Doctor. The registration cannot proceed without a signature.
- Make sure Part D - Hazards all 3 boxes are ticked by the certifying Doctor. The registration cannot proceed without this.
If you can please have the following documents:
- Deceased person's birth certificate (if available)
- Their marriage certificate(s) (if applicable)
- Their medical card (if available)
- Documents required for the Tell Us Once Bereavement Service (see below)
Documents Issued and Costs:
- Form 14 for the Funeral Director
- A free abbreviated death certificate
- A full death certificate - £10 at the time of registration, £15 after one month.
Due to the introduction of the ‘Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011’, the death you are registering may be selected for medical review and you may not immediately be able to complete the death registration. The funeral cannot take place until the medical review has been completed. The Registrar will explain the review process and timescales in more detail at your appointment. You can read more about the medical review process by visiting healthcareimprovementscotland.org
Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once informs many departments of both local and central government when someone has died. The Registrar will carry this out at the death registration appointment.
To use this service, if available please have the following information:
- Deceased person's National Insurance number (if available)
- Their passport or passport number (if applicable)
- Their driving licence or driving licence number (if applicable)
- Surviving spouse's National Insurance number (if applicable)
- Their Blue Badge (if applicable)
- Details of public sector pension (if applicable)
Contact Us
If you are unable to book your appointment online then please telephone 03451 55 00 77.
