You must register a death within five days of the paperwork being issued from the Medical Examiner unless there is a Coroner's investigation.  Deaths that have occurred within the Sunderland area (regardless of where the deceased lived) must be registered with the Sunderland Registration Service at Sunderland City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland, SR1 3AA. 

Once you have been told you can register a death please call 0191 5205553 to make an appointment or go online here.  It is necessary to have a pre-arranged appointment.  The appointment will take about half an hour and you can purchase certified copies of the death certificate if you wish.  Relevant paperwork to allow the funeral to proceed will also be issued. 

The “Tell Us Once” service will be initiated so that you need not report the death several times to different Government bodies, please click here for further information about this.   

If you are not from Sunderland and do not plan to travel here, you may be able to register at your local Register Office “by declaration”.  Please call your local office to arrange this. 

Please visit Sunderland City Council website for further information.