Our standard office hours for registering deaths are Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm. We can register a death outside of these hours if there is a cultural or religious reason why the death needs to be registered urgently. 

For a death registration to take place, the GP of the deceased, must scan and email the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the Medical Examiner, providing the next of kin contact details. The Medical Examiner will then liaise with the next of kin advising them that they will be sending the information to the Register office and to await contact from us to book an appointment.

Out of hours Emergency Burial Certificate Service

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we are unable to guarantee the availability of the weekend on-call service. We will continue to do our best to provide this additional service while staffing levels allow.

An on-call service is available on Saturdays, Sundays and some Bank Holidays between 9am and 10am. This service is for the issue of burial certificates required for a funeral that is to take place within 24 hours.

Council switchboard emergency line: 020 8215 3000 

The on-call registrar will issue the burial certificate if:

• you can provide confirmation that the burial is to take place within 24 hours
• a correctly completed medical certificate of cause of death from the deceased persons GP has been sent directly to the Register Office
• the death does not have to be referred to the coroner
• you are qualified to register the death

There is no basis in law for the mortuary or persons holding the body to require sight of the green Certificate for Burial or Cremation in order to release the body. The certificate is not intended for this purpose and will not be issued unless the criteria above are met.

Who can register a death and information you need to provide

Only certain people can register a death. Find our more about who can register a death.

That person will also need to provide information and documents relating to the deceased. Find out more about what information you need to provide. 

Registration can only proceed if the death happened within Barking & Dagenham.