Register a death

Deaths on the Isle of Man must be registered within 5 days of the date of death.

To register a death you will need to make an appointment with the Civil Registry in Douglas, or at any registration office irrespective of where on the Island the death occurred.

One of the following persons has a legal obligation to register the death:

• A relative of the deceased
• A person present at the death
• A person causing disposal of the body (this may be an executor, but cannot be the funeral director)
• In certain circumstances, such as the deceased having no relatives or nobody being present at the death, an administrator of an institution (e.g. the manager of a residential home)

If registering the death in Douglas, to keep visiting time to a minimum can the informant please ensure that they provide the death information online prior to making an appointment using the ‘Register now’ button below. At this stage you will also be able to purchase any copy certificates.

On receipt of the details to be registered, the registrar will create a document which will be e-mailed to the informant with a request that they check it very carefully and either confirm that it is correct and registration can proceed or, alternatively, clearly mark any amendments required. If any changes are required, the registrar will make the necessary changes and resend the draft to the informant for checking again. This process will take place as many times as required until they agree that the draft accurately reflects the information to be registered.

Once the informant is content that all details are correct, they can make an appointment to register the death. 

The appointment should take between 5 and 10 minutes.

Any person who wilfully gives false information to the Registrar relating to the particulars required to be entered in any register is liable to prosecution, and on conviction, to the punishment prescribed by law.

If after making an appointment you are unable to attend for whatever reason, or you are going to be late for your appointment, please telephone and advise the office as soon as possible – the Registrar may still be able to see you that day, or may provide you with a new appointment time.

Documents needed

When making your appointment please make sure that the Civil Registry has a Certificate of Cause of Death issued by the doctor. Without this document, the Registrar cannot proceed with the registration. If they do not have a copy you may need to collect it from the place of issue or, if you have an appointed Funeral Director, speak with them as they may be able to arrange for the Civil Registry to receive a copy.

Although not essential, it is very helpful if you can bring the following documentation belonging to the deceased to your registration appointment to verify information:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Passport or driving licence
• Change of name documentation (if applicable)

Do I have to pay to register a death?

There is no charge for registering a death.

A death certificate can be purchased at the time of registration, or any time thereafter, at a cost of £11.00 per copy. This is a certified copy of the original entry in the Register of Deaths and is usually required by banks, building societies, insurance companies, probate office and such like.

You can also obtain further copies at a later date if required.

Information recorded in the Register of Deaths

Information recorded in the Register of Deaths must be accurate at the time of the death. The information recorded is outlined below:

Deceased's details

• Date and place of death
• Forename(s) and surname, including maiden surname (if applicable)
• Sex
• Date and place of birth. The town or parish if born on the Isle of Man, otherwise the country as it was known at the time of their birth
• Age
• Occupation. The deceased's most recent occupation should be stated including whether they were retired. 'Homemaker' is acceptable for a non-married woman or 'Housewife' for a married woman who worked in the family home. 'Unemployed' cannot be entered in the Register of Deaths.
• Usual address. This should be the full address the deceased was residing at the time of death
• Cause of death. This is as stated on the Certificate of Cause of Death issued by the doctor or on the Coroner's Certificate of Finding.

Informant's details

• Forename(s) and surname
• Qualification
• Usual address. This should be the full address the informant is residing at the time of registration

See also - related legislation

End of life experience questionnaire

The survey aims to understand the views and opinions of those who recently experienced the end of life care of a loved one. This will help Hospice Isle of Man and other relevant services to provide good, quality, end of life care for all who need it on the Island.

Fill out the survey

To find out more please view the FAQ.