SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 13Registration of deaths and still-births

Section 18

PART 1England and Wales

Interpretation

I11

1

In this Part of this Schedule—

  • “the 1926 Act” means the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1926;

  • “the 1953 Act” means the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953;

  • “the principal 1987 Regulations” means the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/2088);

  • “the 2019 Regulations” means the Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1112).

2

Expressions used in this Part of this Schedule and in the 1953 Act have the same meaning as in that Act.

Information concerning deaths: England and Wales

F12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Giving information other than in person and dispensing with signing the register

F23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Medical certificates of cause of death

F64

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Delivery of documents by alternative methods

F45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Further modifications of the principal 1987 Regulations

F36

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notification of death to coroner

F57

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transitional provision

I28

Anything relating to the registration of a death or still-birth that, immediately before the end of any period for which a provision of this Part of this Schedule has effect, is in the process of being done in reliance on that provision may continue to be done after the end of that period in reliance on that provision.

I39

1

This paragraph applies where, during any period for which paragraph 5 has effect, a person delivers a relevant document in reliance on that paragraph.

2

The person must give, deliver or send the document in accordance with the applicable legislation as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the period, and in any event not later than the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which the period ends.

3

The Registrar General may give a direction—

a

setting a later deadline than the one specified in sub-paragraph (2), or

b

dispensing with the duty under sub-paragraph (2).

4

A direction under sub-paragraph (3) may be expressed as having effect generally, in relation to persons within a description specified in the direction, or in relation to a particular case.

5

A direction under sub-paragraph (3) may vary or revoke previous directions given under that sub-paragraph.

6

A registrar may, in relation to a relevant document that is required to be given, delivered or sent to the registrar, give a direction in a particular case—

a

setting a later deadline than the one specified in sub-paragraph (2), or

b

dispensing with the duty under sub-paragraph (2).

7

In this paragraph—

  • “applicable legislation” means—

    1. a

      in the case of a document within paragraph 5(2)(a), the 1953 Act, and

    2. b

      in the case of a document within paragraph 5(2)(b), the 1926 Act;

  • “relevant document” has the same meaning as in paragraph 5.

C1PART 2Scotland

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Interpretation

I410

1

In this Part of this Schedule “the 1965 Act” means the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965.

2

Expressions used in this Part of this Schedule and in the 1965 Act have the same meaning as in that Act.

Information concerning deaths

F711

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Giving information other than in person

F812

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Delivery of documents by alternative methods

F1413

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Guidance

F914

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transitional provision

I515

Anything relating to the registration of a death or still-birth that, immediately before the end of any period for which a provision of this Part of this Schedule has effect, is in the process of being done in reliance on that provision may continue to be done after the end of that period in reliance on that provision.

I616

1

This paragraph applies where, during any period for which paragraph 13 has effect, a person gives or delivers a relevant document in reliance on that paragraph.

2

The person must give, deliver or send the document in accordance with the 1965 Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the period, and in any event not later than the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which the period ends.

3

The Registrar General may give a direction—

a

setting a later deadline than the one specified in sub-paragraph (2), or

b

dispensing with the duty under sub-paragraph (2).

4

A direction under sub-paragraph (3) may be expressed as having effect generally, in relation to persons within a description specified in the direction, or in relation to a particular case.

5

A direction under sub-paragraph (3) may vary or revoke previous directions given under that sub-paragraph.

6

A district registrar may, in relation to a relevant document that is required to be given, delivered or sent to the registrar, give a direction in a particular case—

a

setting a later deadline than the one specified in sub-paragraph (2), or

b

dispensing with the duty under sub-paragraph (2).

7

In this paragraph “relevant document” has the same meaning as in paragraph 13.

C2PART 3Northern Ireland

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2

Sch. 13 Pt. 3 continued in part until immediately before 25.9.2022 (24.3.2022) by The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Registration of deaths and still-births) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/160), arts. 1, 3

Interpretation

I7C5C8C11C14C1717

1

In this Part of this Schedule—

  • “the 1976 Order” means the Births and Deaths Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/1041 (N.I. 14));

  • “the 2012 Regulations” means the Civil Registration Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. (N.I.) 2012 No. 408).

2

In this Part of this Schedule—

a

references to Articles are to Articles of the 1976 Order;

b

references to Forms are to Forms in Schedule 1 to the 2012 Regulations.

3

Expressions used in this Schedule and in the 1976 Order have the meaning given in that Order.

Giving certificate of cause of still-birth directly

I8C3C6C9C12C1518

1

This paragraph applies if—

a

a registered medical practitioner or registered midwife is required under Article 15(5) to give an informant a certificate for the purposes of Article 15(3), and

b

the certificate is signed during any period for which this paragraph has effect.

2

The medical practitioner or, as the case may be, the registered midwife—

a

must forthwith send a copy of the certificate to the registrar by electronic means;

b

is not required to give the certificate to the informant (but may do so).

3

The informant is not subject to any duty under Article 15(3) in relation to the certificate.

I9C3C6C9C12C1519

In accordance with paragraph 18, Form 10 has effect as if, in the opening lines, for “accompanied by” there were substituted “ and a copy of ”.

Giving certificate of notice of still-birth directly

I10C3C6C9C12C1520

Article 15(7) (registrar receiving written notice of still-births) has effect as if—

a

for “accompanied by such a certificate” there were substituted “ and a copy of such a certificate ”;

b

for “person sending the notice” there were substituted “ person who has control over, or who ordinarily effects the disposal of bodies at, any burial ground or other place at which it is intended to dispose of the body of a still-born child, ”.

Giving information to the registrar other than in person and dispensing with signing the register

I11C3C6C9C12C1521

1

A qualified informant who is required under the 1976 Order to give information concerning a death or still-birth to a registrar, but who is unable to attend before a registrar in person, may give that information—

a

by telephone, or

b

by electronic means.

2

The duty of a qualified informant to sign the register does not apply where information is given in reliance on sub-paragraph (1).

3

Where information is given in reliance on sub-paragraph (1), that information is to be regarded for the purposes of the 1976 Order as having been given in the manner that is required by the 2012 Regulations.

4

An entry in the register of deaths or the register of still-births for which, by virtue of sub-paragraph (2), no signature is required is to be treated as an entry signed by a qualified informant for the purposes of the 2012 Regulations.

5

A qualified informant is to be treated as unable to attend before a registrar in person for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) if it would be unreasonable or impracticable for the person to do so (whether because of illness, the need to care for others, the risk of infection, staff shortages at the registrar's office or any other reason).

I12C3C6C9C12C1522

In accordance with paragraph 21—

a

Form 2 has effect as if at entry number 15 for “Signature” there were substituted “ Name of person professing to be informant ”;

b

Form 3 has effect as if at entry number 16 for “Signature of informant” there were substituted “ Name of person professing to be informant ”.

Signing of certificates of cause of death

F1023

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1124

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1225

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1326

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Giving certificate of cause of death directly

I13C4C7C10C13C1627

1

This paragraph applies if—

a

a registered medical practitioner signs a certificate of cause of death under Article 25(2) (whether or not the certificate is signed in reliance on paragraph 23 or 24), and

b

the certificate is signed during any period for which this paragraph has effect.

2

The medical practitioner—

a

must forthwith send a copy of the certificate, together with such other particulars as are prescribed under Article 25(2), to the registrar by electronic means,

b

is not required to give the certificate to the informant (but may do so).

3

The informant is not subject to any duties in relation to the certificate.

I14C4C7C10C13C1628

In accordance with paragraph 27—

a

Article 22 has effect as if the words “, accompanied by such medical certificate of the cause of the death as is required by Article 25 to be given to the registrar,” were omitted;

b

Article 25(3) has effect as if after “paragraph (2)” there were inserted “ or give the registrar a copy of such a certificate ”;

c

Article 25(4) has effect as if for the words from “An informant” to “and” there were substituted “ Where a registered medical practitioner gives to the registrar a copy of the certificate which the practitioner has signed under Article 25(2) together with such other particulars as are required under Article 25(2) to be given by the practitioner, ”.

Giving certificate of registration, or written notice, of death directly

I15C4C7C10C13C1629

Article 29 (certificate of registration of death) has effect with the following modifications—

a

paragraph (1) has effect as if—

i

after “person giving information concerning the death” there were inserted “ or the person who effects the disposal of, or performs any funeral service for, the body of the deceased person ”;

ii

after “a certificate in the prescribed form”, the words “under his hand” were omitted;

b

paragraph (2) has effect as if—

i

for “the person sending the notice, if required to do so,” there were substituted “ the person who effects the disposal of, or performs any funeral service for, the body of the deceased person ”;

ii

after “a certificate in the prescribed form”, the words “under his hand” were omitted.

Transitional provision

I1630

Anything relating to the registration of a death or still-birth that, immediately before the end of any period for which any provision of this Part of this Schedule has effect, is in the process of being done in reliance on that provision may continue to be done after the end of that period in reliance on that provision.