Registering a death

We realise that this may be a difficult time for you and your family if you have recently experienced a bereavement. In this section, there is information on how to register a death in the Scottish Borders and what we can do to help you at this difficult time.

Registering the death of a person who dies in Scotland

A relative, family friend or person with knowledge of the details required (shown below) may register the death. When you receive the death certificate you should:

contact the Registrar at any Registration Office in Scotland.
take any certificates (birth and marriage) that you have to hand, with you.
be prepared to answer questions about the deceased and his or her parents.

When the register is signed

you will be given a form for the undertaker(form 14)
you will also be given a form to complete and send to the DSS
we will notify the council sections for council tax and the electoral register

Death Extract

An abbreviated extract of death will be issued free of charge. A full extract of the death entry is not automatically given to you at the time of registering the death. If you need to purchase one for insurance or banking purposes it will cost you £8.50 at the time of registration, or before the 31st December of the year the death was registered. There will be an additional charge of £5 if you apply after that date.

Please send a stamped addressed envelope and cheque or postal order (made payable to 'SBC') to the Registrar in the district where the deceased died.

Further information is available on the following:

the contact details for Registrars
information about graveyards and burials
information about funerals