How to Get a UK Death Certificate

Two Types of UK Death Certificate

The UK issues two formats of death certificate, and US families usually need the full version:

Full death certificate lists the deceased's name, date and place of death, cause of death, the informant's details, and the registration date. This is the version US banks, probate courts, and insurers require.

Short death certificate (also called a "certificate of fact of death") confirms the death happened but omits the cause of death. Most US institutions reject it because it lacks the cause-of-death information they need to process claims.

Always order the full version unless you have a specific reason not to.

Ordering at Registration

Order certified copies when the death is registered if possible. In England and Wales, a standard GRO copy costs £12.50. In Scotland, copies are £12 at registration or £15 if ordered later. Northern Ireland pricing is similar.

Order at least four copies. You'll need separate originals for:

• The FCDO Legalisation Office (for the Hague Apostille — they keep the certificate during processing)
• Your US probate court filing
• Life insurance claims (many insurers won't accept copies and want an original certified document)
• Bank and financial institution notifications

Each certified copy is an original — signed and stamped by the registrar — not a photocopy. US institutions that say they need an "original" death certificate are asking for one of these certified copies.

Ordering After Registration

If you didn't order enough copies at the time of registration, or if you're managing things from the US:

England and Wales: Order replacement certified copies through the General Register Office (GRO) online portal. The GRO is based in Southport. You'll need the deceased's full name, date of death, and the district where the death was registered. Standard postal delivery takes one to two weeks; priority service is available for an additional fee.

Scotland: Order from National Records of Scotland. Their online service covers certificates registered anywhere in Scotland.

Northern Ireland: Order from the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI).

Getting the Certificate Recognized in the US

A UK death certificate is a foreign public document. When a US probate court, bank, or insurer requires authentication, use a Hague Apostille — a certification stamp from the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes that confirms the document is a legitimate UK public record.

The apostille is a paper-based process. UK death certificates are not eligible for the FCDO's electronic e-Apostille service. You must mail the physical certified copy to the FCDO office. Standard processing takes two to three weeks. Express agents with counter access can get same-day or next-day service.

Separately, you should also apply for a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRODA) through the US Embassy. The CRODA is a US federal document that many institutions accept without an apostille — but having both documents prevents delays when one institution's compliance department asks for something the other doesn't cover.

Our American Dies in the UK — Family Emergency Guide includes a document-ordering checklist with the exact number of certified copies to request, links to each GRO ordering portal, and a timeline showing when to start the apostille process relative to probate filing deadlines.