If someone dies in hospital, they will be taken to a mortuary either at the hospital or in another location such as a funeral home. The bereavement team within the hospital will let you know where your loved one has been taken.

Medical Certificate Cause of Death issued

A doctor will speak with the Medical Examiner and the Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD) will then be scanned and emailed to the Register Office. There is no need to collect this.

Death registration appointment

Await contact

Once the MCCD has been received the Registrar will contact you to arrange a death registration appointment.

You are legally required to register a death within five days from when the Medical Examiner has issued the MCCD.

During the appointment

The Registrar will issue a form for burial or cremation and send the form by email to your chosen funeral director or burial society. 

Arrange burial or cremation

The funeral director will then contact you to arrange the details of the burial or cremation.

Deaths outside of Wrexham

You will need to contact the register office for the area in which the death took place (external link)

Next steps after you have reported the death to the GP, NHS Wales out of hours service or emergency services (depending on whether it was expected or not).

Contact funeral director

You should contact your chosen funeral director to arrange the collection of your loved one.

Medical Certificate Cause of Death issued

A doctor will liaise speak with the Medical Examiner and the Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD) will then be scanned and emailed to the register office. There is no need to collect this.

Death registration appointment

Await contact

Once the MCCD has been received the Registrar will contact you to arrange a death registration appointment.

You are legally required to register a death within five days from when the Medical Examiner has issued the MCCD.

During the appointment

The Registrar will issue a form for burial or cremation and send the form by email to your chosen funeral director or burial society.

Arrange burial or cremation

The funeral director will then contact you to arrange the details of the burial or cremation.

If the death occurred in Flintshire and the Medical Examiner has issued the MCCD, the Register Office there will contact you to make an appointment to register the death.

For other areas you will need to contact the register office for the area in which the death took place (external link)

If the death happened outside of Wrexham but Wrexham register office is your nearest office and you are not able to travel to the relevant register office, contact our register office to enquire about making a ‘declaration of registration’.

In preparation for the death registration appointment please make sure you know the information listed below. You might find it helpful to write it down in advance, or have documents such passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate (if applicable) on hand.

Details of the deceased:

• Date and place of death
• First name, middle names (if applicable) and surname
• Any other names the deceased was otherwise or previously known by
• Maiden name (if applicable)
• Date and place of birth
• Most recent occupation and whether they were retired
• Address

The following information will also be required for government statistics:

• Was the deceased single, married, widowed, divorced, a civil partner, surviving civil partner or former civil partner?
• Is their spouse or civil partner still alive? If so, what is their full name, date of birth?, and most recent occupation?
• How long did they stay in hospital or in another establishment prior to before their death?
• Was the deceased under 75?
• What industry did they work in and what position did they hold?
• Did they get a pension paid from government funds? This includes the civil service, teachers, armed forces and war widows. This does not include the state pension or pension credit.
• The deceased NHS number from their medical card (if available).