When someone dies in Scotland, the death must be registered within 8 days.
You can register the death at any registration office in Scotland. A burial or cremation cannot happen until the death has been registered.
You can register the death by phone, which might be easier for you. If you prefer, you can also make an in-person appointment at one of these offices: Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, or Kirkcaldy.
How to register a death
To register a death, we will need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), also known as Form 11. This will be emailed directly to us by the certifying doctor. We must receive it before your appointment can take place.
Once you have booked your appointment, please contact the hospital or GP to confirm that the MCCD has been emailed to Fife Registrars.
If the MCCD has not been received by the time of your appointment, the registration will need to be rescheduled. The Registrar will not contact you to cancel your appointment in advance, as the MCCD can arrive at any time up until your appointment.
If you can, please have the following documents:
- Deceased person's birth certificate (if available)
- Their marriage certificate(s) (if applicable)
- Their medical card (if available)
- Documents required for the Tell Us Once Bereavement Service (see below)
Documents Issued and Costs:
- Form 14 for the Funeral Director
- A free abbreviated death certificate
- A full death certificate - £10 at the time of registration, £15 after one month.
Due to the introduction of the ‘Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011’, the death you are registering may be selected for medical review and you may not immediately be able to complete the death registration. The funeral cannot take place until the medical review has been completed. The Registrar will explain the review process and timescales in more detail at your appointment. You can read more about the medical review process by visiting healthcareimprovementscotland.org
Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once informs many departments of both local and central government when someone has died. The Registrar will carry this out at the death registration appointment.
To use this service, if available please have the following information:
- Deceased person's National Insurance number (if available)
- Their passport or passport number (if applicable)
- Their driving licence or driving licence number (if applicable)
- Surviving spouse's National Insurance number (if applicable)
- Their Blue Badge (if applicable)
- Details of public sector pension (if applicable)
Contact Us
If you are unable to book your appointment online, call 03451 550077.
