Registering a Death

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Registration of Deaths
Who must register a death
The details required for registration
Where must the death be registered
Locating the appropriate Registrar for Deaths

PROCEDURES FOR THE CIVIL REGISTRATION OF A DEATH IN IRELAND

As from the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 on 5 December 2005, the applicable procedures for the registration of a death within the state are as follows;

1. Under Section 42 of the Act, upon the death of a person following an illness, a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during the illness must complete and sign Part 1 of the Death Notification Form, stating to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the cause of death. Part 1 of the form concerns general details of the deceased and incorporates the medical cause of death details.

2. Section 42 also provides that the registered medical practitioner must give the Death Notification Form to a relative of the deceased, provided a relative exists and that relative is capable of acting as a qualified informant (see #4 below).

3. Under Section 37 (1) of the Act, the relative must complete and sign Part 2 of the form, which concerns additional personal details of the deceased. Upon completion of Part 2, the relative must give the form to any Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages as soon as possible but no later than three months from the date of death. In order to complete the registration, the relative is required to sign the Register of Deaths in the presence of a Registrar.

4. Under Section 37 (1) (a) and for the purpose of these procedures, the term “relative who is capable of acting as a qualified informant” means a relative of the deceased (whether by blood or by marriage) who has knowledge of the required particulars in relation to the death and who is not incapable of complying with these procedures by reason of ill- health.

5. Where the registered medical practitioner can find no relative of the deceased who is capable of acting as a qualified informant, the Death Notification Form should be given to the Chief Officer (or to an officer authorised by the Chief Officer) of the hospital (if the death occurred in a hospital) or to an Undertaker or other qualified informant (see below) in cases where the death did not occur in a hospital.

6. Where a death occurred in a hospital or other institution, organisation or enterprise, it is incumbent on the Chief Officer or authorised person to satisfy him or herself that a relative can be found to carry out the obligation to register the death. If it is ascertained that no relative who is capable of acting as a qualified informant can be found, the Chief Officer or authorised person should assume the role of qualified informant, complete and sign Part 2 of the Death Notification Form, give it to a Registrar and sign the Register. The death should be registered as soon as possible after the event, but no later than three months from the date of death.

7. Where a death occurred other than in a hospital or other institution and the Death Notification Form has been given by a registered medical practitioner to a qualified informant who is not a relative of the deceased, it is incumbent on that person to satisfy him or herself that a relative can be found to carry out the obligation to register the death. If it is ascertained that no relative who is capable of acting as a qualified informant can be found, the qualified informant who is in possession of the Death Notification Form must complete and sign Part 2 of the form, give it to a Registrar and sign the Register. The death should be registered as soon as possible after the event, but no later that three months from the date of death.

8. Under Section 37 (2) of the Act, where more than 3 months have elapsed since the date of death, any qualified informant who receives a Death Notification Form from a registered medical practitioner must complete and sign Part 2 of the form, give it to a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and sign the Register of Deaths in the presence of the Registrar.

9. Section 41 of the Act provides that deaths occurring due to causes other than illness, or where there was no medical attendance prior to the death, are to be referred to the Coroner who will make arrangements to have the death registered.

10. A person who fails to comply with the requirements of the Civil Registration Act 2004 may be guilty of an offence.

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Who must register a death?

The Civil Registration Act 2004 places a duty firstly on a relative of the deceased (whether by blood or by marriage) who has knowledge of the required particulars in relation to the death and who is not incapable of complying with these procedures by reason of ill- health to register the deceased's details within 3 months of the death . The relative does not have to be the next-of-kin (for example, a widow may ask another family member to register the details)

If no such relative exists or can be found each other qualified informant has a duty to register the death. Where a qualified informant (other than a relative) knows that no relative of the deceased exists who is capable of registering the death, he or she must register the death as soon as possible after the Death Notification Form is in their possession. Where, within 3 months of the death, such a qualified informant knows of the whereabouts of a relative capable of registering the death, the form must be given to that relative, who must then register the death.

A death that has not been registered within 3 months of the event may be registered by any qualified informant

Qualified Informants

• A relative of the deceased who has knowledge of the required particulars concerned. (Has a duty to register the death within 3 months)
• A person present at the death
• Any other person who has knowledge of the required particulars,
• 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,
• 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.
• A person who found the body of the person concerned.
• A person who took charge of that body.
• A person who procured the disposal of that body, or
• Any other person who has knowledge of the death.


(All qualified informants other than relatives of the deceased have a duty to:
• Within 3 months of the death, give the Death Notification Form to a relative of the deceased who is capable of registering the death.
• Register the death as soon as possible if no relative of the deceased exists or can be found
• Register the death as soon as possible if more than 3 months have elapsed since the death and the date the Death Notification Form was received by them)

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The details required for registration

• Date and place of death*.
• Place of birth of deceased.
• Sex of deceased.
• Forename(s), surname, birth surname and address of deceased.
• Personal public service number of deceased.
• Marital Status of deceased.
• Date of birth or age last birthday of deceased.
• Profession or occupation of deceased.
• If deceased was married, the profession or occupation of spouse.
• If deceased was less than 18 years of age on date of death, occupation(s) of his or her parent(s) of guardian(s).
• Forename(s) and birth surname of father of deceased.
• Forename(s) and birth surname of mother of deceased.
• Certificated cause of death, duration of illness and date of certificate*.
• Forename, surname, place of business, daytime telephone number and qualification of registered medical practitioner who signed certificate.
• Forename(s), surname, qualification, address and signature of informant.
• If an inquest in relation to the death or a post-mortem examination of the body of deceased was held, the forename, surname and place of business of coroner concerned.
• Date of registration.
• Signature of Qualified Informant
• Signature of registrar.

* These details must be supplied as part of the medical cause of death.

Upon the death of a person following an illness, a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during the illness must complete and sign Part 1 of the Death Notification Form, stating to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the medical cause of death . Part 1 of the form concerns general details of the deceased and incorporates the medical cause of death details.

Upon completion of Part 1 of the form, the registered medical practitioner must give the form to a relative or other qualified informant. Subject to the circumstances outlined above at who must register a death , the qualified informant should either give the form to a relative who is capable of registering the death or should complete Part 2 of the form.

Completed Death Notification Forms must be given to any Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In order to complete the registration process, the Registrar must enter the details in the Register of Deaths, confirm the details entered with the qualified informant and get the qualified informant to sign the Register. The Qualified Informant who attends the office of a registrar to register a death will be required to show evidence of ID. Immediately upon completion of the registration process, a death certificate can issue.

If the deceased was not seen by a doctor prior to the terminal illness or if s/he died as a result of an accident or in violent or unexplained circumstances the death must be referred to the Coroner, in which case the death will be registered on foot of a certificate issued by the Coroner to the Registrar containing all the details to be registered. Please note that a death referred to a coroner is not a matter for the registration service and any issues arising should be referred to the coroner concerned, the local authority concerned or the Department of Justice and Law Reform (72/76 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.Tel: (01) 602 8202. Fax: (01) 661 5461.Lo-call: 1890 221 227. E-mail: info@justice.ie

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Where must the death be registered

As from 5 December 2005, you can now register at the office that is most convenient for you or nearest to your home/work/business address.

The Qualified Informant who attends the office of a registrar to register a death will be required to show evidence of ID.

Deaths may be registered in any Registrars office. If you have difficulty locating a Registrar you should contact any of the Superintendent Registrars offices listed below.

Click here for list of HSE registration offices

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General Register Office, Government Offices,
Convent Road, Roscommon.
Tel: +353 (0) 90 6632900
LoCall: 1890 252076
Fax: +353 (0) 90 6632999
Fax: +353 (0) 90 6632988