To ask about registering a death

[GetOffTheTableMabel]

I am going with my friend to the Registrar’s Office to register her father’s death. I’ve never done this before but it doesn’t seem as though it would be a very lengthy process. I might need to make arrangements to cancel an appointment of my own though. Can anyone advise how long this appointment takes? Do registrars generally run to time or should I allow for delays?
Our council website doesn’t include this information. I want to support my friend through the whole process and I don’t want to even hint to her that I have anything else on that day by asking her about timing.

if you can cancel then I would. I have no idea how long it takes but she might need you after.

It really depends. One I've done took 15 minutes as all the supporting documents were to hand (birth certificate, marriage certificate and paperwork from the hospital) whereas another took a while due to people getting upset while doing it, plus a bit of a paperwork drama. We were there for over an hour.

Going by my experience. You’re only in the room for around 10mins. I’d say 15 at the most.
They have to get through the registering. Therefore I don’t think they have the luxury of being able to keep people waiting around. Plus they recognise it’s a sensitive time and understand that you want it over with.
As pp says though. I would still postpone any appointments that you have as your friend will probably need you afterwards.

I never thought of that...@lyralalala.

I did it recently and it took about 45 minutes - there were a few issues with the printer. Get plenty of copies of the death certificate.

My area is part of the scheme where they will notify all other agencies so make sure you take NI number / registration of car (if registered keeper of a car) and full details of occupation etc

When I registered my mum's death, it took about 20 minutes. I'd echo what a pp said- you will probably need several copies of the death certificate.

10 - 15 minutes but was kept waiting for an hour beforehand.

Make sure she knows how many original copies oxymoron she needs before she goes.

Registrar here - we allow about 40/45 mins for the appointment. Probably about 30 mins should do it all going well.
We don't normally keep people waiting in our office, that would be extremely unusual.

Mine (my Dad) took about an hour - they were really busy with weddings (I saw several sets of Weddings) - I remember thinking how amused my Dad would be when told him......
Registrar was very apologetic.

I guess it's luck of the draw, our paperwork was all in order and straightforward, but they had a lot going on.

Took 20 minutes to register my Dad's death and I too echo getting several copies of certificate. You can get more at a later stage but it costs more. I got 7 copies. It's surprising how many people/organisations need them.
It's nice you're supporting your friend - it's a hard time.

Make sure you have all the necessary documents and they are correct. The dr had put the wrong date of visiting on my mother's death certificate and the registrar refused to register the death. So we had a wasted day of travelling 40 miles to get death certificate, another 30 to registrar and back home only to have to do it all again. Can understand why it couldn't be done but there was no compassion from registrar or not even a sorry.

Has your friend already got an appointment and had she got the paperwork to register the death

I recently did my mums and it took about 20 mins and we were waiting 10 mins
Make sure you’re friend knows all the correct info ie his date of birth where he was born his wife’s name sounds stupid but it’s stuff they asked me

Also get extra copies of the certificate I got 5 just in case they were needed

Thank you so much everyone. Yes, friend has appointments booked already. I looked up the list of information she would need and she has it. Very grateful for the suggestion to get multiple copies of the certificate. That sounds really sensible.

I think when I registered my dads death it only took about half an hour.

We didn't have an appointment. I was only 21 and didn't know anything about what was involved so I just turned up about 9am and said I'm sorry I'm not sure what the process is but my dad died in the early hours of this morning and I need to register his death, then I went to the funeral director and started that process then I went round to the bank and asked how to close his bank accounts then I started calling around bills etc.

P.s I agree about getting extra copies. I had several companies who wanted to see a copy before closing down things. Council and pension and landlord and others for example. Which if I could go in and show them in person it was fine but some places told me that head office needed the copy and they were too far and required me to post it to them.

It's so interesting that you have to register it yourself; here a doctor does it. He/she fills out the paperwork and contacts the appropriate authorities. Generally the funeral home will order copies of the death certificate for you, however many you want. If you need more you go down to the health department and buy them.

It doesn’t take long, we had a problem with fil as they couldn’t locate one of his parents in the records but eventually found them. We get 6 copies of the certificate.

I went recently, it was about twenty minutes. I got six copies of the certificate then did the Tell us Once service.

If you can I would cancel your appointment so that you can spend time with your friend afterwards and not have to leave

We got 6 copies but due to the Tell Us Once service I've only had to send off one.