Registering a Death & Getting the Death Certificate

Understanding the Death Certificate

A Death Certificate is a vital legal document issued by the General Register Office in Ireland. It is essential for many administrative and legal purposes including:

Claiming life insurance policies
Accessing pension entitlements
Settling the deceased's estate and probate matters
Closing bank accounts and transferring assets
Claiming social welfare entitlements

Death Notification Form vs Death Certificate

People are often surprised that the Death Certificate is not issued immediately after a death. It's important to understand the difference between two documents:

Death Notification Form (Medical Certificate)

Signed by a medical doctor who knew the deceased
Required before the funeral can proceed
Your Funeral Director can liaise with the doctor to obtain this on your behalf
This allows the funeral to take place

Death Certificate (Official Registration)

Issued by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Only available after the death has been formally registered
Usually obtained after the funeral has taken place
The official legal record of the death

How to Register a Death

Death registration must be completed within three months of the death occurring. However, most families register the death within a few weeks after the funeral.

Who Can Register a Death?

The following people can register a death:

A relative of the deceased who was present at the death
A relative of the deceased who was in attendance during the last illness
A person present at the death
The person in charge of the premises where the death occurred (e.g., hospital administrator)
Any person making the funeral arrangements

What You Need to Register

When registering the death, you will need to provide:

The Death Notification Form (medical certificate) signed by the doctor
Your own identification (photographic ID such as passport or driving licence)
Details about the deceased including:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation
- Usual address
- Marital status
- Spouse's name (if applicable)
- Parents' names

Where to Register

Deaths must be registered at a Civil Registration Office. You can register a death at:

Any Civil Registration Office in Ireland (you don't have to go to the office where the death occurred)
Dublin City Centre has a dedicated General Register Office

The Registration Process

Book an appointment - Most offices now require you to book in advance
Bring required documents - Death notification form and your ID
Provide information - Answer questions about the deceased
Sign the register - You'll sign the official death register
Receive certificates - You can obtain certified copies immediately

Obtaining Death Certificates

Number of Certificates Needed

We recommend obtaining at least 5-10 certified copies of the death certificate when you first register. You will need certificates for:

Each bank or financial institution
Insurance companies
Pension providers
Probate office
Social welfare
Property transfers

Cost of Certificates

First certificate: Provided free when you register
Additional certificates at time of registration: €10 each
Certificates ordered later: €20 each

It's more cost-effective to get multiple copies when you first register rather than ordering them later.

How to Order Additional Certificates

If you need more certificates later, you can:

Apply online through gov.ie
Apply by post to the General Register Office
Visit any Civil Registration Office in person

You'll need to provide:

Full name of the deceased
Date of death
Registration number (if known)
Your own identification

Special Circumstances

Death Reported to the Coroner

If a death is sudden, unexplained, or occurs in certain circumstances, it must be reported to the Coroner. In these cases:

Registration cannot proceed until the Coroner releases the body
The Coroner will register the death once the cause of death is known
Your funeral director will guide you through this process
There may be delays before the funeral can take place

Deaths Abroad

If an Irish citizen dies abroad:

The death should be registered in the country where it occurred
Contact the Irish embassy or consulate in that country
Your funeral director can assist with repatriation arrangements

Getting Help

At Jennings Funeral Directors, we understand that dealing with bureaucracy during bereavement can be overwhelming. We're here to help:

We can advise on the registration process
We'll ensure you have the Death Notification Form
We can explain what documents you'll need
We're available to answer any questions

If you need assistance with death registration or obtaining death certificates, please don't hesitate to contact us at any of our locations.

Useful Contacts

General Register Office

Website: civilregistration.ie
Phone: 0818 200 277
Location: Werburgh Street, Dublin 8

Citizens Information

Website: citizensinformation.ie
Phone: 0818 07 4000
Local offices throughout Dublin