Register a death

Procedures for registering a death during lockdown 

Until further notice all death registrations to be carried out in the Douglas Civil Registry will follow the guidelines as set out below. For the time being the Commissioners at Castletown, Peel and Ramsey will still be registering deaths using their own protocols if you wish to use their services. 

The requested process for the Douglas Civil Registry is as follows: 

The person registering the death (informant) is to submit details to be registered via the online service below. The informant is to purchase as many certificates as required during this process. If more are requested at a later date then they can be purchased online too. There will not be the ability to pay for certificates at the time as the registry office will not be accepting cheques or cash. 

The registrar will transcribe all the details onto a document which will be e-mailed to the informant with a request that the informant checks it very carefully and either confirms it is correct and registration can proceed or, alternatively, clearly marks 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 the informant agrees 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 registrar will be in the office and will open the doors at the appointment time to allow for the registration to take place. If the informant is early they can knock on the window and the registrar may be in a position to allow them to enter early. The informant is to wear a face mask at all times whilst in the Civil Registry and they must sanitise their hands prior to entering the office. Please note, only one informant is allowed to attend the registration process. 

The registrar will prepare the register so that the informant only needs to come into the office to sign the register and collect any paid for certificates. The informant will still need to make sure all details are correct before signing but if the process has been followed then there should not be any errors. 

Once the registration process has taken place the registrar will sanitise the office and pen as required.

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)

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 registering the death in Douglas, you can save time by providing the death information online prior to your appointment.

Appointments where information has been provided take approximately 5-10 minutes, whereas an appointment without advance information takes around 30 minutes.

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Civil Registry

Registries Building

Deemsters Walk

Bucks Road

Douglas

Isle of Man

IM1 3AR

Telephone:+44 1624 687039

Email:Send Email

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

You should bring the Certificate of Cause of Death issued by the doctor with you to your registration appointment. Without this document, the Registrar cannot proceed with the registration.

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 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 Coronor'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 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.