Obtain a Copy Death Certificate
Do you need to obtain a copy of a Death Certificate?
We can help you. We supply full/long form, unabridged, certified copy death certificates suitable for pension claims, probate, genealogy and other official purposes.
Ordering is quick, easy and secure.
Replacement Death Certificates are available to order from the following dates:
- England & Wales from 1837
- Scotland from 1855
- Northern Ireland from 1864
- Republic of Ireland from 1864
UK Death Certificates
A UK death certificate is the official legal record of a person’s death. It proves that someone has died.
A death certificate is issued as soon as the death is officially registered, typically within a few days of the death, unless delayed by a coroner’s investigation.
There is a lot to think about and organise when someone has died. Given the emotional and practical demands following a bereavement, and the stress of loss and funeral planning, it’s easy for the death certificate to go missing.
You may need a copy of the death certificate to apply for probate or to claim life insurance or to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), so let UK Document Services do the hard work for you — we’ll make the process as quick and simple as possible.
You may need to obtain a copy death certificate when:
- The certificate has been misplaced or is lost
- A certificate has not been received
- Banking and Finances – To close bank accounts, to stop pension payments and apply for widow(er) or survivor benefits.
- Estates and Probate – Apply for probate, transfer or sell property, distribute inheritance to beneficiaries.
- Government and Public Records – Notify HMRC, notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), update the electoral register, close NHS records.
- Insurance and Pensions – To make claims under life insurance, pension schemes, or annuities, to prove entitlement to survivor or dependent benefits.
- Property and Personal Affairs – To transfer or sell property, vehicles, or other assets, to cancel utilities, phone contracts, or tenancy agreements, to notify landlords or mortgage lenders.
- Genealogy or family history research
Whether it’s for legal, personal, or administrative purposes, UK Document Services can assist you in obtaining a copy death certificate. You can apply for a death certificate for someone else, so there’s no need to send your own ID.
Provide the details you know on the Death Certificate Order Form, and we’ll ensure the request is processed efficiently.
Our Copy Death Certificates FAQs
Is it an official, unabridged Death Certificate?
You will receive full or long form death certificates which are certified legal copies, unabridged, suitable for official purposes.
Can this copy Death Certificate copy be used for legal purposes?
Yes. All certified copy death certificates are full/long form and are suitable for official purposes including life insurance claims and probate actions.
What is on a copy Death Certificate?
The contents of a full/ long form Death Certificate are normally as follows:
- When & where died
- Name & surname
- Sex
- Age
- Occupation
- Cause of death
- Signature, description & residence of informant
- When registered
- Signature of registrar
How long does it take to obtain a copy Death Certificate?
Standard Service – Despatch within 10 working days
Rapid Service – Despatch within 5 working days
Priority Service – Despatch next working day
How much is a replacement Death Certificate?
The cost to obtain a copy Death Certificate is as follows:
Standard Service – £31
Rapid Service – £49
Priority Service – £65
What postage options do you offer?
We offer 1st Class Postage, Signed For Service, International Tracked Service and Worldwide Courier Service for all our services.
Can I get a scanned copy of my Death Certificate?
Yes, we offer a scan and send service, you can add this to your copy Death Certificate order.
Can I order without knowing the full details of the death?
Yes, if you do not know the exact details for your Death Certificate, this is not a problem. We will do our best with the information you have to locate the record and will confirm the details with you if we are unsure.
Can I amend my order?
Yes, you are able to amend or cancel your order if your order has not already been processed.
Can I obtain a copy Death Certificate where the death was registered overseas?
If the event was registered with a British overseas authority, then we should be able to obtain a copy of the Death Certificate for you.
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I require an Apostille on the Death Certificate, can you help?
Yes. If you require an Apostille on a Death Certificate you can simply add this to your Death Certificate order. An Apostille ensures the certified copy Death Certificate is recognised worldwide by all members of the Hague Convention.
Who are UK Document Services?
We are an independent organisation who offer an online service for obtaining copy Death Certificates, as well as replacement Birth Certificates, Marriage and Divorce Certificates. Death Certificates are ordered from the General Register Office (GRO). We are not affiliated with the GRO, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or any government body.
Worldwide Postage Options – 1st Class Postage, Signed For, International Tracked & Worldwide Courier
We Despatch Globally – We can help customers from the UK, Europe and Worldwide locations
Scan & Send Available – We offer a scan and send service
Amend Your Order – You have the ability to amend and/or cancel your order if it has not already been processed
Payment Options – We accept payments using Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay and PayPal