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Registering a death

Following the introduction of the UK Emergency Coronavirus Bill on 26 March 2020, registrars now undertake stillbirth and death registrations by telephone.

Death registrations will continue to be done remotely (over the telephone) and documents posted to families first class, there is also an option to pick documents up at the Burns Monument Centre once the registration is complete.  If there is an urgent need for a face to face appointment this will be accommodated where possible. 

New arrangements for the certification and registration of deaths in Scotland were introduced on 13 May 2015.

This included the establishment of an independent review service run by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Information on all aspects of the Death Certification Review Service is available on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website. If you wish to make an application for an advanced registration, please inform the registrar when you register the death. 

A death must be registered within eight days of its occurrence. The certifying doctor will send the death certificate (MCCD Form 11) electronically to us once it has been completed, there is no need for you to bring a copy of this to us. However, please contact our office to provide us with details of the person who has passed away.  As we require certain information from the death certificate, we will be unable to register the event with you until we have received this from the doctor. 

If the death took place in Scotland it can be registered at any registration office in Scotland. If the death occurred outside of Scotland then you should register the death in the registration district where it took place.

Who can register a death?

  • any person present at the death
  • the deceased's executor or other legal representative
  • the occupier of the premises where the death took place
  • any person having knowledge of the particulars to be registered

Cost of registration

Registration is free and an abbreviated certificate will be issued free of charge at the time of the registration.

A full certificate given at the time of registration or within one month of registration will cost £10. Any certificate outwith one month of registration will cost £15.

We only accept payment by debit/credit card.

The Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14) will be emailed to your appointed funeral director immediately after registration.  

The Registrar will contact the Council Tax Service and Electoral Registration Office directly on your behalf within seven days of registration.

Registering a stillbirth

Find out how to register a stillbirth.

Out of hours contact details

If you require a death to be registered urgently due to a funeral needing to take place within a specific timescale, for example, a faith group requiring to carry out a burial quickly, please contact us on the emergency helpline number below.

Tell us once service

The GOV.UK Tell Us Once service notifies various departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions and various council services. We will register you for this service and provide you with a unique reference number for you to use at home.

For more information please view the Tell Us Once video below:

 

Contact Information

Registration Services
Burns Monument Centre
Kay Park, Kilmarnock
KA3 7RU
Telephone: 01563 576695
Telephone: 01563 576696
24 Hour Emergency Helpline
Telephone(local rate): 0345 724 0000