FioraHow many death certificates do I need?
How many to order, who needs one, what they cost, and how to get more later.
When you register a death, the registrar will ask how many certified copies of the death certificate you want to buy. Most people aren't sure how many they need, and it's not an easy question to think about at that moment.
The short answer: order at least 4 to 5 copies. It's cheaper to buy them at registration than to order more later, and you'll need them for banks, insurance, pensions, and probate.
For official guidance, see the GOV.UK page on ordering certificates.
At a glance
- Recommended copies: 4 to 5 (more for larger estates)
- Cost per copy: £12.50 in England and Wales
- Cheapest time to order: At the registration appointment
- Can you order more later? Yes, online, by phone, or by post
What you need to know
- Each bank, insurer, and pension provider may need their own copy.
- Some organisations hold certificates for weeks during processing.
- It costs the same to order at registration or later (with the reference number).
- Tell Us Once notifies government departments for free, but not banks or insurers.
- Order the full certificate (with cause of death), not the short version.
How many death certificates to order
The number you need depends on the size of the estate, but here's a practical starting point:
- Simple estate (one bank, one pension, no property): 3 to 4 copies
- Average estate (a few accounts, a pension, maybe a property): 4 to 5 copies
- Larger estate (multiple banks, investments, property, business interests): 6 or more
The reason you need multiples is that organisations often hold onto the certificate while they process a claim or close an account. If you only have one copy, you'll be waiting for it to be returned before you can send it to the next organisation.
Who needs a death certificate
Most organisations need to see an original certified copy (not a photocopy). Here's who will typically ask for one:
Financial
- Each bank and building society (per institution, not per account)
- Life insurance providers
- Private pension providers (each scheme separately)
- Investment platforms and ISA providers
- Premium Bonds / NS&I
- Mortgage lender
- Credit card companies
Legal and administrative
- Probate registry (for the grant of probate application)
- Solicitor handling the estate
- HMRC
- Employer (for final pay and death-in-service benefits)
Other
- Utility companies (some require it, others accept a phone call)
- Vehicle finance companies
- Private medical insurance
- Trade unions or professional bodies (if relevant to benefits)
Tell Us Once handles government departments
What death certificates cost
England and Wales
- At registration: £12.50 per copy
- Ordered later (with GRO reference): £12.50 per copy
- Ordered later (without reference): £16.00 (includes a £3.50 search fee)
- Priority next-day service: £38.50
Scotland
- At registration: £10.00 per copy
- Ordered later: £15.00 from National Records of Scotland, or £12.00 via ScotlandsPeople
Northern Ireland
- At registration: £8.00 per copy
- Ordered later: £15.00 (first copy, includes search fee) then £8.00 for additional copies
How to order death certificates
At the registration appointment
This is the easiest way. When you register the death at the register office, the registrar will ask how many copies you want. You pay on the day and take them with you.
After registration
If you need more copies later, you have several options:
- Online: Through the General Register Office (GRO) website. You'll need the GRO reference number from the certificate. Takes about 4 working days.
- By phone: Call 0300 123 1837 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
- By post: Using the application form from GOV.UK.
- From the local register office: Contact the office where the death was registered.
Without the GRO reference number, delivery takes around 15 working days and costs an extra £3.50 for the search.
Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you report a death to most government departments in a single step. The registrar will explain it when you register the death.
What it notifies
- DWP (State Pension, Universal Credit, and other benefits)
- HMRC
- Passport Office (cancels the passport)
- DVLA (cancels driving licence and removes registered keeper from vehicles)
- Local council (Council Tax, Housing Benefit, electoral register, Blue Badge)
- Public sector pension schemes (NHS, Armed Forces, Local Government)
What it does not cover
Banks, building societies, private pensions, insurance companies, utility companies, and all other private organisations. You need to contact these individually, which is where your death certificates come in.
How to use it
The registrar will either complete it with you at the appointment, or give you a reference number to use online or by phone within 28 days. You'll need the deceased's National Insurance number, date of birth, date of death, and address. Having their passport number, driving licence number, and Council Tax reference to hand will speed things up.
Northern Ireland
MCCD vs death certificate
These two documents are different, and it helps to understand the distinction.
Medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD)
This is completed by the doctor who attended the person during their final illness, or who examined them after death. Since September 2024, all MCCDs in England and Wales must be reviewed by a Medical Examiner before the death can be registered. The MCCD is sent directly to the registrar. You do not usually need to handle this document yourself.
Death certificate (certified copy)
This is the legal document you buy from the registrar after the death has been registered. It confirms the death occurred and includes the cause of death. This is the document banks, solicitors, and other organisations need.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland
The process is similar but with a few differences. You have 8 days to register a death (vs 5 in England and Wales). Certified copies cost £10.00 at registration. The Medical Examiner system operates in Scotland but with some differences in process. Tell Us Once is available.
Northern Ireland
Certified copies cost £8.00 at registration, making them the cheapest in the UK. Registration can be completed by telephone. The MCCD is sent electronically to the General Register Office for Northern Ireland, which forwards it to the local office. The registrar then contacts the family to arrange registration. Tell Us Once is not available in Northern Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
Order at least 4 to 5 certified copies. Each bank, insurance provider, and pension scheme may need their own copy, and some will hold onto it for weeks during processing. Larger estates with multiple accounts may need more.
A certified copy costs £12.50 in England and Wales when ordered at registration or later with the GRO reference number. Without the reference number, it costs £16.00. Priority next-day service costs £38.50. In Scotland, copies cost £10.00 at registration. In Northern Ireland, they cost £8.00.
Yes. You can order additional copies online through the General Register Office (GRO) website, by phone on 0300 123 1837, by post, or from the local register office where the death was registered. It costs £12.50 per copy with the GRO reference number.
The medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is completed by a doctor and records the cause of death. It is sent directly to the registrar. The death certificate (certified copy) is the legal document you purchase from the registrar after registering the death. The death certificate is what banks, solicitors, and other organisations need.
Most organisations require an original certified copy from the registrar, not a photocopy. Some organisations will accept a solicitor's verification letter instead, but if you are handling the estate yourself, original certified copies are the safest option.
Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you report a death to most central and local government departments in a single step. The registrar explains it when you register the death. It notifies the DWP, HMRC, Passport Office, DVLA, and your local council. It does not cover banks, insurers, or other private organisations.
You can get certified copies immediately when you register the death at the register office. If ordering later from the GRO with a reference number, standard delivery takes around 4 working days. Without a reference number, it takes around 15 working days. Priority service dispatches the next working day.
The process and costs differ slightly. In England and Wales, copies cost £12.50. In Scotland, they cost £10.00 at registration. In Northern Ireland, they cost £8.00. The documents serve the same purpose, but are issued by different authorities in each nation.
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