A UK death certificate is an official document certifying the death of an individual, issued by the General Register Office after the death has been registered at a local register office. Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers, a regulated notarial practice at 19 Wigmore Street in London, provides a next-day apostille service for death certificates required for use abroad.
How to Obtain a Death Certificate in the UK
A complete guide to registering a death, ordering certified copies from the GRO, and getting an apostille on a death certificate for use abroad — with next-day turnaround from our Wigmore Street office.
How do I register a death in the UK?
Before you can obtain a death certificate, you must register the death with the local register office. The registration must happen within 5 days in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or within 8 days in Scotland.
In England and Wales, you must attend the register office in the district where the death occurred. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you can attend any register office.
What documents do I need to register a death?
The person registering the death (known as the “informant”) should bring:
- Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) — issued by the attending doctor or hospital
- The deceased’s birth certificate
- The deceased’s marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
- The deceased’s proof of address (a utility bill or bank statement)
- Your own identification
The registrar will issue a certificate for burial or cremation (the “green form”) and give you a GRO index reference number. Keep this number safe — it makes ordering copies of the death certificate quicker and cheaper later on.
How do I order a certified copy of a death certificate?
Once the death is registered, you can order official certified copies. Most people need at least two or three copies — one for probate, one for the bank, and one for insurance. There are three ways to order:
Online
Order through the General Register Office (GRO) website. Faster and cheaper with a GRO index reference number.
By post
Download an application form from the GRO website, complete it, and post it to the address provided on the form.
In person
Visit the register office where the death was registered. You can usually collect a certified copy the same day.
How long does it take to get a death certificate?
| Method | Turnaround | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online (standard) | 4 working days | Cheapest option with GRO reference |
| Online (priority) | Next working day | Order before 4pm |
| By post | Several weeks | Slowest method |
| In person | Same day | Must attend the original register office |
Can I order a death certificate from abroad?
Yes. You can order a certified copy online through the GRO website and have it delivered to your overseas address. Allow 10–15 working days for international postage. If you need it urgently, have it sent to a UK contact who can forward it by courier.
For the latest fees and to place an order, visit the GRO ordering page.
Do I need an apostille on a death certificate?
If the deceased had any connection to another country — property, bank accounts, a pension, life insurance, or simply needs to be registered as deceased with a foreign authority — you will almost certainly need an apostille on the death certificate before the overseas body will accept it.
An apostille is a certificate issued by the UK Government (through the FCDO Legalisation Office) confirming that the document is genuine. It is accepted in all countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Common situations where an apostille on a death certificate is required:
- Selling or transferring a property the deceased owned abroad
- Closing overseas bank accounts or investment portfolios
- Claiming a foreign pension or life insurance policy
- Registering the death with a foreign consulate or civil authority
- Applying for foreign probate or succession proceedings
How does our death certificate apostille service work?
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers has daily counter access to the FCDO Legalisation Office. We send a messenger by foot every working day to submit and collect documents. This means guaranteed turnaround — not weeks of waiting.
Send us the certificate
Post, courier, or drop your death certificate to our office at 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH.
We submit to the FCDO
Our messenger hand-delivers it to the Legalisation Office. Documents received before 10:30am are ready the next working day.
Collect or receive by post
Pick up from our office, or we’ll return it by Royal Mail Special Delivery or courier.
| Service | Turnaround | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Express | Next working day | Document received before 10:30am |
| Standard | Third working day | Document received after 10:30am |
Why choose Edward Young for your death certificate apostille?
- Daily FCDO counter access — our messenger attends the Legalisation Office every working day, so your document never sits in a postal queue
- Guaranteed turnaround — next working day if we have it before 10:30am, not “up to several weeks” like postal applications
- Regulated notarial practice — authorised by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, members of the Notaries Society
- Fixed fees, no hidden costs — you know exactly what you’ll pay before we start
- Central London location — 19 Wigmore Street, a short walk from Bond Street and Baker Street stations
- Full apostille service — we handle death certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, degrees, and all other UK public documents
Get a Quick Quote
Tell us what you need and we’ll get back to you within the hour. No obligation.
What about consular legalisation?
Some countries require a consulate stamp (consular legalisation) on top of the FCDO apostille. This is common for non-Hague Convention countries and for certain jurisdictions that require an additional layer of authentication.
We can advise on what your destination country requires. Our Country Guide lists the specific requirements for each jurisdiction. If you are unsure, give us a call — we handle these enquiries every day.
Apostille on a UK death certificate for use abroad
If you need to use a UK death certificate abroad — for foreign probate, settling overseas property, claiming life insurance, or registering the death with a foreign consulate — you will usually need an FCDO apostille on top of the certified copy. We arrange the apostille within 1–10 working days from our Wigmore Street office.
Read more about our apostille services:
- Apostille death certificate UK — our specialist guide to apostilling a death certificate
- Full apostille service — fees and turnaround times
- What is an apostille? — meaning and how the Hague Convention works
- Apostille cost UK — breakdown of FCDO and notary fees
Need to order the death certificate first? Use the GRO online ordering service — standard delivery takes 4 working days, or collect same-day from the register office where the death was registered.
What our clients say
★★★★★ 5-star rated on Google Reviews
Sarah T. ★★★★★
“Incredibly efficient service. I needed an apostille on a death certificate for a property sale in Spain. Document was ready the next day — exactly as promised.”
James M. ★★★★★
“Very helpful during a difficult time. They explained exactly what I needed for the French authorities and handled everything quickly. Highly recommend.”
Priya K. ★★★★★
“I was struggling to get a death certificate apostilled for use in India. Edward Young sorted it in two days. Professional and straightforward.”
David R. ★★★★★
“Fixed fee, no surprises, and they even advised me on the consular legalisation I needed on top of the apostille. Excellent service.”
Frequently asked questions
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers
Address: 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7499 2605
Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Hours: Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:30
Regulator: Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Memberships: The Notaries Society · STEP · ACSP Registered
Need an apostille on a death certificate?
Next-day service from our Wigmore Street office. Fixed fees, no hidden costs.