Registering a death
The Superintendent Registrar is responsible for registering every death that occurs in Jersey.
If a Jersey resident dies in another country including the United Kingdom or any other Channel Island, the death must be registered in that other country.
A person who dies in Jersey whose next of kin wish to repatriate the body to any jurisdiction outside Jersey including the United Kingdom, must apply for repatriation of the body through the Viscount's Department.
A cremation or burial cannot take place until the death has been registered. If the death is being investigated by the Viscount's Department, the cremation or burial can only take place if it is authorised by the Viscount.
Appointments to apply for Probate may not be able to take place until a death has been registered and a death certificate produced. You should liaise with the Probate Office for further information.
How to apply to register a death
As soon as possible after a death, the next of kin for a person who has died in Jersey must appoint a Jersey funeral director to manage the funeral arrangements and the registration of death on behalf of the family. In Jersey there are 3 companies offering these services:
- De Gruchy's Funeral Care, 01534 499444
- Maillard's Funeral Directors, 01534 737291
- Pitcher & Le Quesne Funeral Directors, 01534 733330
An Application to Register a Death form must be submitted to the Superintendent Registrar within 5 days of the death. A funeral director will meet with the next of kin as soon as possible after the death has occurred to obtain all the information required for the completion of an Application to Register a Death. The funeral director will submit an Application to Register a Death form to the Superintendent Registrar.
The funeral director will also submit an order to the Superintendent Registrar for the number of death certificates required by the next of kin. The next of kin can order as many copies of the Certificate of Death as required.
Further death certificates can be ordered at any time by applying directly to the Office of the Superintendent Registrar using the online form on this site.
It's free to register a death, however the cost for a death certificate is £32.31.
Application form to register a death
What documents are needed to support an application to register a death
The Superintendent Registrar requires confirmation of the deceased person's identity and civil status in order to register the death.
As soon as possible after the person's death, the next of kin must therefore provide to the funeral director copies of the following documentation relating to the deceased person:
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate, if married
- divorce decree absolute, if divorced
- passport or national identity card
The cause of death must be provided to the Superintendent Registrar by a certifying doctor by submitting a medical death certificate within 5 days of the death.
In some circumstances, including if the death is not expected or is unnatural, the death will be reported to the Viscount who holds responsibility as coroner. In this case, the Superintendent Registrar can not register the death until a cause of death is established by the Viscount.
How long does it take to register a death?
The registration of a death is a legal process and is subject to strict legal requirements.
The registration cannot take place until the full identity and details relating to the deceased person has been verified and until a cause of death has been established. The length of time it takes to establish these factors will dictate how long it takes to reach the point when the death can be registered.
Once the Superintendent Registrar is satisfied that the identity of the deceased person has been fully verified and the cause of death has been established, the funeral director is required to attend the Office of the Superintendent Registrar to sign the Register of Deaths. Death certificates can then be produced and are provided to the funeral director for the next of kin. The cremation or burial can then take place.
What happens if an inquest is opened into a death?
If an inquest is opened into a death, a registration cannot be made until an Inquest has been held and a cause of death provided to the Superintendent Registrar.
Once an Inquest has been held, the Viscount will issue a Finding of Inquest and serve it on the Superintendent Registrar. The Superintendent Registrar will then register the death, reflecting the information provided in the Finding of Inquest.
Due to the processes required by law, it may take several weeks following an Inquest for the Finding of Inquest to be served on the Superintendent Registrar and for the death to be registered.
When the death is registered, copies of the death certificate will be provided to the funeral director as ordered by the next of kin.
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