If the person died in a house or hospital, the death can be registered by:
1) A relative
2) Someone present at the death
3) An occupant of the house
4) An official from the hospital
5) The person making the arrangements with the funeral director
Deaths that occurred anywhere else can be registered by:
A relative or someone present at the death
A death should be registered in the area in which it occurred, (arrangements can be made to register in another area but this involves delay). If there is to be an inquest the Coroner will then register the death. He will, however, normally release the deceased person for the funeral when the post mortem results are available to him.
Deaths occurring in the Lancashire Area (including Preston and Fylde) can be registered at the following offices
Preston: The Register Office, Bow Lane, Preston PR1 8SE
St. Annes: The Library, 254, Clifton Drive South, St. Annes, FY8 1NR, Please note, St. Annes Office is closed on Thursdays.
To arrange an appointment please do so as follows
1. Online at Register a death - Lancashire County Council The family member wishing to register the death will be able to check that the correct paperwork has been received and arrange their face to face appointment at any registration office in Lancashire. If the Registrars have not received the relevant paperwork the family member will be asked to check back after 24 hours.
2. By calling the dedicated Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 6705 where the customer service assistants will be able to assist in checking that the paperwork is in place and arranging a face to face appointment at any registration office in Lancashire. If the Registrars have not received the information the family member will be asked to call again after 24 hours.
The GP/ Bereavement Centre or Coroners Officer should continue to advise the family when they have sent the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (or notification from the Coroner) to the Registrars. The family should also be advised which office in Lancashire the certificate has been sent to.
If the certificate is to be handed direct to the family they should be advised to deliver it to the local Registration Office without delay.
The appointment will last about 20 or 30 minutes. Please take with you
1) A relevant birth certificate or marriage certificate (if available)
2) The patient’s medical card (if available)
Since the Covid pandemic the Medical Certificate of cause of death issued by the doctor or hospital is being sent electronically to the appropriate register office.
The Register Office will charge for each copy of the Death Certificate, but it is advisable to get at least two copies at the time of registering.
The Registrar will also issue a green cremation/burial certificate which he or she may send electronically to the funeral director. If the green form is handed to you by the Registrar it should be delivered to the Funeral Director as soon as possible.