Where to register the death
If the person died in Lambeth, you should register the death with us.
If it is too distressing or not convenient for you to attend the Lambeth Register office to register the death, then you may go to any register office in England or Wales to register by 'death declaration'.
The registrar will record the relevant information and act as an intermediary, sending the details to Lambeth. It can take up to 10 working days for Lambeth to action your declaration. Lambeth will then register the death and will post out any certificates that you paid for. If you require copies of the death certificate, you can order these online once you have attended your appointment.
For example, if the death occurred at St Thomas' Hospital but the relatives live in Sheffield, you will be able to provide the details of the death to the Register Office in Sheffield. Sheffield Register Office will then send the details of the death to Lambeth Register Office. Lambeth Register Office will register the death and post any certificates that they have received payment for.
As relatives often live in a different part of the country, it is not uncommon to register a death by declaration at the nearest register office. We advise that if you choose to make a declaration in a different borough, you will not be given any documentation at the time of the appointment. This is because the certificates can only be issued by the local authority who registers the death. This will lead to a delay in making funeral arrangements.