The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987

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[F1Registration where no report to coroner]E+W

42.—[F2(1) Paragraph (1A) applies where—

(a)the relevant registrar receives from any qualified informant information of the particulars required to be registered concerning a person’s death;

(b)no investigation into the death under Part 1 of the 2009 Act is conducted; and

(c)in accordance with regulations under section 20 of the 2009 Act (medical certificate of cause of death)—

(i)the registrar is given a confirmed attending practitioner’s certificate, or a medical examiner’s certificate, and

(ii)the registrar is not required to invite the medical examiner to issue a revised confirmed attending practitioner’s certificate, or a revised medical examiner’s certificate.

(1A) The registrar shall register the death and the particulars, if not previously registered, in the presence of the informant on form 13, entering the particulars required in spaces 1 to 7 and 9 in accordance, where applicable, with the following provisions of this regulation.]

(2) In space 1 (date and place of death)–

(a)where a child lived for less than 24 hours, the registrar shall enter after the date of the child’s death the word “Aged ... ... ... ...”, inserting the age in completed hours or, if less than one hour, in minutes;

(b)where the date, but not the place, of death is known, the registrar shall enter the date of death followed by the words “Found dead ... ... ... ...”, inserting the place where the body was found;

(c)where the place, but not the date, of death is known the registrar shall enter the words “On or about ... ... ... ...”, inserting the date on which the body was found followed by the place of death;

(d)where both the date and place of death are unknown, the registrar shall enter the words “Deceased found on ... ... ... ...”, inserting the date on which the body was found followed by the place where it was found.

(3) In space 6 (occupation and usual address of deceased person)–

(a)where the deceased was a child under the age of 16 years, the registrar shall enter the words “son [or daughter] of ... ... ... ...”, inserting the name, surname and occupation of the father, [F3or other parent,] if that information is given, and the name, surname and occupation of the mother preceded where appropriate by the word “and” so however that if–

[F4(i)the names and surnames of the mother, father and other parent are to be entered, whichever is appropriate, and the surname of the mother if it is different from the surname of the father or other parent]

[F5(ii)it is within the knowledge of the informant that the mother was known by the surname of the father or the surname of the other parent at any time during the lifetime of the child,]

the registrar shall enter in respect of the mother that surname followed by her name and surname as at the death of the child preceded by the word “now” or, if the mother is deceased, the name and surname as at her death preceded by the word “afterwards”;

(b)where the deceased was a married woman or widow, the registrar shall, after her occupation enter the words “Wife [or Widow] of ... ... ... ...”, inserting the name, surname and occupation of her [F6spouse] or deceased [F6spouse].

[F7(ba)where the deceased was a married man or widower, the registrar shall, after his occupation enter the words “Husband [or Widower] of …”, inserting the name, surname and occupation of his [F8spouse] or deceased [F8spouse];

(bb)where the deceased was a civil partner or surviving civil partner, the registrar shall, after his occupation enter the words “Civil partner [or Surviving civil partner] of …”, inserting the name, surname and occupation of his civil partner or deceased civil partner.]

[F9(bc)the name, surname and occupation of adoptive parent(s) shall also be entered in space 6.]

[F10(4) In space 9 (cause of death) the registrar—

(a)shall enter the cause of death precisely as stated in the confirmed attending practitioner’s certificate, or in the medical examiner’s certificate, and

(b)shall enter the words—

(i)“Established by .. ...”, inserting the name, surname and qualifications of the attending practitioner who signed the attending practitioner’s certificate, as stated in the certificate, followed by the words “Scrutinised and confirmed by .. .. Medical Examiner”, inserting the name, surname and qualifications of the medical examiner who confirmed the cause of death, as stated in the certificate, or

(ii)“Established and confirmed by .. .. Medical Examiner, following referral by a coroner”, inserting the name, surname and qualifications of the medical examiner who signed the medical examiner’s certificate, as stated in the certificate.]

(5) After entering the required particulars in spaces [F111 to 7 and 9], the registrar shall call upon the informant to verify the particulars in spaces 1 to 7.

(6) If any error has been made in those particulars, the registrar shall, in the presence of the informant, make the necessary correction as provided in Regulation 54 [F12when the entry is being prepared in manuscript].

(7) The registrar shall then–

(a)call upon the informant to sign the entry in space [F138];

(b)enter in space 10 the date on which the entry is made; and

(c)sign the entry in space 11, adding his official description.

Textual Amendments

F1Reg. 42 heading substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(a) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

F2Reg. 42(1)(1A) substituted for reg. 42(1) (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)