Apostille a Death Certificate — Next-Day Service from £100+VAT
Get your UK death certificate legalised for use abroad. We handle everything — submission, verification and secure return.
An apostille death certificate is a UK death certificate authenticated by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for legal use in countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers, a regulated notarial practice at 19 Wigmore Street in London, provides a next-day death certificate apostille service with daily counter access to the FCDO Legalisation Office.
How Much Does a Death Certificate Apostille Cost?
Transparent fixed fees. No hidden charges. FCDO government fee (£40 per document, no VAT) is in addition.
All fees plus VAT. FCDO charge £40 per document (no VAT). Express service: documents must be with us by 10:00am.
Multiple documents? Call us — we offer volume pricing.
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Why Do You Need to Apostille a Death Certificate?
When someone dies and they have assets, property or legal obligations overseas, foreign authorities will typically require a UK death certificate that has been officially authenticated. An apostille — issued by the FCDO — confirms the death certificate is a genuine UK public document, and is accepted in all countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, our guide to what an apostille means explains the process in plain English.
Common situations where a death certificate apostille is required include:
- Settling an overseas estate — transferring or selling property, closing bank accounts or releasing funds held abroad
- Claiming a foreign pension or insurance — pension providers and insurers in other countries require authenticated proof of death
- Registering the death abroad — particularly where the deceased held dual citizenship or was a foreign national who died in the UK
- Granting power of attorney overseas — appointing a legal representative in another country to manage the deceased’s affairs
- Court proceedings abroad — inheritance disputes, probate applications or trust administration in a foreign jurisdiction
How to Get a Death Certificate Apostille — 3 Simple Steps
Send Us Your Certificate
Post your original UK death certificate or GRO-issued certified copy to our Wigmore Street office, or drop it in person. We accept Royal Mail Special Delivery and DHL.
We Submit to the FCDO
Our messenger hand-delivers your document to the FCDO Legalisation Office daily. We verify the apostille matches your certificate before collection.
Apostilled Certificate Returned
We return your apostilled death certificate by tracked courier — to any UK or international address. A scanned copy is emailed the same day for your records.
Why Choose Edward Young Notaries for Your Death Certificate Apostille?
Daily FCDO Counter Access
We send a foot messenger to the FCDO Legalisation Office every working day — no postal delays.
Regulated Notarial Practice
Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Over 20 years of experience in document legalisation.
Fixed, Transparent Fees
One all-inclusive price. No hidden admin charges, handling fees or surprise extras.
Embassy Legalisation If Needed
If the destination country is not a Hague Convention signatory, we handle the embassy legalisation step as well.
Notarisation for Foreign Certificates
Have a non-UK death certificate? Our notary can create a certified copy for FCDO apostille.
Central London Location
19 Wigmore Street, W1U 1PH — minutes from Bond Street and Oxford Circus stations. Walk-ins welcome.
Case Study: Urgent Death Certificate Apostille for a Property Sale in Portugal
The situation: Margaret contacted us on a Monday morning in a state of some distress. Her late husband David had owned a small apartment in the Algarve, and the Portuguese notário handling the sale had given her a firm deadline — the buyer was pulling out unless authenticated documents were produced within the week. Margaret had the original UK death certificate but had no idea what an apostille was or how to get one in time.
What we did: Margaret posted the death certificate to us by Royal Mail Special Delivery on Monday afternoon. We received it Tuesday morning before 10:00am and submitted it to the FCDO Legalisation Office the same day via our foot messenger. By Wednesday at 3:30pm, the apostille was attached. We scanned and emailed a copy to Margaret — and to her Portuguese lawyer — that evening, then dispatched the original by tracked courier.
The cost:
The outcome: Margaret’s Portuguese lawyer received the scanned apostille on Wednesday evening, the buyer’s solicitor confirmed they were satisfied, and the property sale completed the following week. The original apostilled death certificate arrived with Margaret by Friday. What could have been a three-week postal ordeal through the FCDO was resolved in under 48 hours.
What Our Clients Say
“I needed to urgently apostille my father’s death certificate for use in Spain. Edward Young handled it with great care and had it back to me the next day. Excellent service during a difficult time.”— Google Review
“Very professional and efficient. They explained exactly what was needed for the apostille and managed the whole process. The certificate was returned within 48 hours.”— Google Review
“I was dealing with my mother’s estate in France and had no idea where to start with the paperwork. The team here walked me through everything and handled the apostille promptly.”— Google Review
“Straightforward, fixed-price service. No surprises. They also helped with the embassy legalisation for Saudi Arabia which saved me a huge amount of time.”— Google Review
Documents We Apostille
Death certificates are just one of many document types we legalise for international use.
- Death certificates (England, Wales, Scotland, NI)
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Decrees absolute / final orders
- Wills and grants of probate
- Powers of attorney
- Company documents (Companies House)
- Degree certificates and diplomas
- Police certificates (ACRO/DBS)
- Medical reports and certificates
- Statutory declarations
- Deed polls
Need an apostille on a different document type? Visit our complete apostille services guide for full details on pricing, turnaround times and what to expect — or call us on 020 7499 2605 and we’ll tell you exactly what you need in two minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Death Certificate Apostilles
Where can I get a death certificate apostille?
How long does it take to apostille a death certificate?
Can I apostille a copy of a death certificate?
Do I need a solicitor or notary to apostille a death certificate?
What is the difference between an apostille and embassy legalisation?
Can I apostille a Northern Ireland or Scottish death certificate?
Need a Death Certificate Apostille? We Can Help.
Send us your certificate and we’ll have it apostilled as fast as the next working day. Fixed fees, no surprises.