Republic of Ireland

Within 3 Months

 

In the event of a death, a record must be made. The presiding authority is the General Register Office, which will aid in documentation and registration.

 

The Death Notification Form is acquired from the presiding medical authority. Authorities include: (a) GP, (b) Coroner, (c) Hospital, (d) Medical Clinic. Which will denote the cause of death and registered medical practitioner’s signature.

 

This form will be given to the spouse, civil partner, or relative of the deceased, who will then formally submit it to the General Register Office. In the event none are available, please review the list below for other options.

 

A qualified informant is:

 

(a) a relative, civil partner, cohabitant, next of kin, personal representative or religious superior of the deceased who has knowledge of the required particulars

 

(b) a person present at the death

 

(c) any other person who has knowledge of the required particulars

 

(d) if the death occurred in a building used as a dwelling or a part of a building so used, any person who was in the building or part at the time of the death

 

(e) if the death occurred in a hospital or other institution or in a building or a part of a building occupied by any other organisation or enterprise, the chief officer of the institution, organisation or enterprise (by whatever name called) or a person authorised by the chief officer to perform his or her functions

 

(f) a person who found the body of the person concerned

 

(g) a person who took charge of that body

 

(h) the person who procured the disposal of that body

 

(i) any other person who has knowledge of the death

 

There is no charge for registering a death in Ireland. However a fee is levied on copies of the Death Certificate. If you are working on behest of social welfare, please provide the necessary evidence such as a note from the department.

 

Northern Ireland

Within 5 Days

 

In the event of a death, a record must be made. The presiding authority is the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI), which will aid in documentation and registration. Your district registration office should be your local contact.

 

The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is a document exchanged by the governing authorities. The presiding medical authority should be your initial contact to register the death. Authorities include: (a) GP, (b) Coroner, (c) Hospital, (d) Medical Clinic.The Certificate will be sent on your behalf to the district registrar. 

 

The overseeing medical authority will pass your details and preference of contact to the registrar. Seldom, you may be given the Death Registration form to contact the district registrar yourself.

 

The registrar will reach out to complete the registration process.

 

Registrants, the party seeking to register the death should be of the following:

 

(a) any relative of the deceased – including a relative by marriage

 

(b) a person present at the death

 

(c) a person taking care of the funeral arrangements

 

(d) the executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate

 

(e) the governor, matron or chief officer of a public building where the death occurred

 

(f) a person living in and responsible for a house, lodgings or apartments where the death occurred

 

(g) a person finding, or a person taking charge, of the body

 

There is no charge for registering a death with Northern Ireland. However a fee is levied on copies of the Death Certificate.

 

The Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 allows for certificates including Death Certificates to be in English and/or Irish.

While following the registration process, you may indicate your preference. Language preference must be made at registration, documentation cannot be revised or applied retroactively.