Deaths
Register a death
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death paperwork will be electronically scanned directly to us from the Medical Examiner’s office once they have spoken to the family. The Coroner’s Office will also scan their paperwork directly to us. Once we have received paperwork, we will contact the family or next of kin to arrange an appointment to register’
The death should be registered in the district where it occurred, although a death can be registered by declaration at any other Register Office in England and Wales. If a declaration is made then the certificates and paperwork will be delayed. For further details please contact the Register Office.
To register a death please contact the Neath Port Talbot Register Office to arrange an appointment.
The death may be registered in Welsh and English (but not Welsh only) providing that the person registering the death is a Welsh speaker. As not all Registrars are Welsh speaking, it is advisable you inform the Registrar you wish to register the death bi-lingually. This will help determine if a Welsh speaking registrar will be available.
People who can register a death
The following people may register a death:
- A relative of the deceased;
- A person present at the death;
- The occupier of the premises if he or she knew the death had occurred;
- A person arranging the funeral (this does not mean the Funeral Director).
Information needed for the registrar
It would be helpful if any of the following documents of the deceased could be brought to the registration appointment:
- Birth certificate;
- Marriage certificate;
- Civil partnership certificate;
- Driving licence;
- Passport;
- Proof of address (utility bill);
- NHS medical card.
If none of the above documents are available this will not prevent the registration from taking place. However, it would be helpful to provide them wherever possible so that we can ensure the registration is recorded accurately.
The registration will be held in private with the Registrar who will ask questions in respect of the deceased, you will need to know the following information:
- The date and place of death;
- The full name and surname of the deceased;
- The date and place of birth;
- the occupation of the deceased and the full name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner
- the deceased's usual home address
- the date of birth of the deceased's spouse or civil partner
- details of any public sector pension
- the NHS medical card number for the deceased if available
Once the registration has been completed, the Registrar will ask you to check that all the details are correct before signing the Register. You should check the information carefully before signing as any errors found after the registration has been completed will involve a formal correction procedure and statutory fee.
Documents you will be given by the registrar
The Registrar will send the required paperwork directly to the funeral director. This will allow you to make the funeral arrangements.
Death Certificates can be purchased for a fee of £12.50 each at the time of registration.
You will be provided with details for the Tell Us Once service.
Please be aware that there are times when the doctor or registrar needs to contact the Coroner. On such occasions, the registration might be delayed. If a post-mortem or inquest has been held, the Coroner will keep you informed of the process.
Registration of a Jewish or Muslim death
We recognise that in some faiths, burial has to take place within 24 hours of death.
To ensure that loved ones can be buried meeting the religious timescales if the death occurred in the district, a Registrar can be made available to register the death and issue appropriate paperwork for a funeral to take place. Please contact the Funeral Director to make arrangements.
Further Information is available on the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Local Government Association website and endorsed by the Faith Communities Forum.