Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953

17 Information concerning other deaths. E+W

(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect where a person dies elsewhere than in a house or where a dead body is found and no information as to the place of death is available.

(2) The following persons shall be qualified to give information concerning the death, that is to say—

(a) [F1 any person who is a relative or the partner of the deceased and who] has knowledge of any of the particulars required to be registered concerning the death;

[F2 (aa) any personal representative of the deceased;]

(b) any person present at the death;

(c) any person finding or taking charge of the body;

(d) any person causing the disposal of the body.

(3) It shall be the duty—

(a) of each such [F3 person] as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of the last foregoing subsection; or

(b) if there are no such [F4 persons], of each other qualified informant,

to give to the registrar, before the expiration of [F5 five days from the relevant date], such information of the particulars required to be registered concerning the death as the informant possesses, and in the presence of the registrar to sign the register:

Provided that—

(i)

the giving of information and the signing of the register by any one qualified informant shall act as a discharge of any duty under this subsection of every other qualified informant:

(ii)

[F6 this subsection shall not have effect if an investigation is conducted under Part 1 of the 2009 Act into the death of the deceased person and has not been discontinued under section 4 of that Act (cause of death [F7 becoming clear before inquest]).]

[F8 (4) In this section, the expression “the relevant date” means—

(a) the date on which the registrar is notified in accordance with regulations under section 20(1)(f)(i) or (h)(i) of the 2009 Act (confirmation or certification by medical examiner of cause of death); or

(b) where an investigation under Part 1 of that Act into the death of the deceased person is discontinued under section 4 of that Act, the date of the discontinuance.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 17(2)(a) substituted (9.9.2024) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(2)(a) (with s. 180); S.I. 2024/516, art. 3(b)

F2 S. 17(2)(aa) inserted (9.9.2024) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(2)(b) (with s. 180); S.I. 2024/516, art. 3(b)

F3 Word in s. 17(3)(a) substituted (9.9.2024) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(3)(a) (with s. 180); S.I. 2024/516, art. 3(b)

F4 Word in s. 17(3)(b) substituted (9.9.2024) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(3)(b) (with s. 180); S.I. 2024/516, art. 3(b)

F5 Words in s. 17(3) substituted (9.9.2024) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(3)(c) (with s. 180); S.I. 2024/516, art. 3(b)

F6 Words in s. 17(3) substituted (25.7.2013) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(3)(d) (with s. 180); S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(o)(iii)

F7 Words in s. 17(3) substituted (28.6.2022) by Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (c. 35), ss. 39(4)(c), 51(3)

F8 S. 17(4) inserted (9.9.2024) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 9(4) (with s. 180); S.I. 2024/516, art. 3(b)