Death Registration
Help for the bereaved
When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to
be made.
Unfortunately, these decisions and arrangements often have to be
made at a time of great personal distress.
These pages are intended to give the bereaved help and guidance
when registering a death. A Vale of Glamorgan Bereavement leaflet
is also available on request.
How soon should the death be registered?
A death should normally be registered within 5 days of the date
of death. However, there may be exceptions to this such as when the
Coroner is
involved. If the death has been referred to the Coroner, it cannot
be registered until the registrar has received authority from the
Coroner to proceed with the registration.
Please contact your local Register Office for further
information and advice if you think the Coroner is involved.
Who should register a death?
The primary responsibility for registering a death rests with a
nearest relative of the deceased person. If no relative is
available to register the death, please contact your local Register
Office for advice.
Where do I go?
When someone dies in England or Wales the death needs to be
registered at the Register Office in the District in which the
death occurred. All necessary paperwork including death
certificates will be issued at the time of registration. You can go
to a different office if it is more convenient and complete the
relevant paperwork in the form of a ‘declaration’. The declaration
will then be forwarded to the registrar in the district where the
death occurred, where it will be registered. The necessary
paperwork and death certificates requested will be issued by post.
Doing things this way may mean a slight delay to the funeral, since
it is not possible for a burial or cremation to take place until
after the registrar has issued the necessary paperwork.
Register
Office opening hours vary from one district to another and most
operate an appointment system. You should allow about 30 minutes to
complete the registration process.
Vale of Glamorgan Register Office, Barry
Civic Offices
Holton Road
Barry
CF63 4RU
Tel: 01446 709490
E-mail: RegistrationService@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Office Hours (by appointment only)
Monday to Friday 0900 – 1300 and 1400 – 1600
Emergency Out of Hours Service
Tel: 01446 - 747874.
Parking Facilities
Limited car-parking facilities are available for customer use
(accessible via Dock View Road) at the Civic Offices, Monday –
Friday, with an overflow car park at Barry Leisure Centre also
available. Unlimited spaces are available at the Civic Offices at
weekends.
Visitors should report to the reception desk on the ground
floor, where you will be directed to the Register Office.