Registering a Death
To register a death, you must bring a Death Notification Form stating the cause of death to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths most convenient to you. Deaths should be registered as soon as possible and no later than 3 months from the date of the death.
Once it has been verbally confirmed that the doctor is in a position to issue the Death Notification Form, arrangements for the funeral may proceed.
Death Notification Form
When a death takes place at home, in a hospital, hospice, nursing home or other institution, a registered , medical practitioner who attended the deceased completes Part 1 of the Death Notification Form (Medical Certificate for the Cause of Death).
Part 2 of the form provides additional personal details of the deceased and is completed by the deceased’s civil partner or a close family relative, acting as a Qualified Informant. If such a person is not available, the registrar has a hierarchy of people who can act as a Qualified Informant.
If the deceased doctor did not see the deceased at least 28 days before the death occurred or if the doctor is unhappy about the cause of death, he/she must inform a Coroner who will decide if a post-mortem is necessary.
All sudden deaths, accidents etc., are by law subject to a Coroner Post Mortem.
In the case of a post mortem taking place, the Coroner issues a Coroner’s Certificate of the cause of death to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths and the death is automatically registered.
The website of the HSE provides provides detailed information on Registering a Death, including on who can act as a Qualified Informant.
Visit HSE.ie – Registering a Death
HSE.ie also provides the contact details of the Local Offices of Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths
Visit HSE.ie – Local Registrar Offices
Organ Donation
If the deceased was an organ donor, you must act quickly if you are their nearest relative.
For more information read the Citizens Information guide to Organ and Body Donation