Legal Issues

When a person dies the death needs to be verified and the cause of death must be established as soon as possible. This can only be done by the appropriate medical/health professional.

The death certificate needs to be sent to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This can now be done by the GP practice emailing the certificate directly to the Registrar. Always confirm where the certificate is being sent. If the person has died in Moray, it will be sent to the Registrar in Elgin.

An appointment will then need to be made with the Registrar to finalise the Registration of Death and after this the Registrar will produce a document known as a Form 14.

NB: The law prohibits a burial or cremation to take place prior to the registration issuance of a Form 14.  It is usual that this Form is sent to nominated Funeral Directors or to the person who registered the death. The appointment, which is usually conducted by telephone, can take some time. There are numerous questions that are asked, and it is helpful to ask the Registrar, when you are making the appointment, what information you will need to provide so that you can make sure you are prepared in advance.

Elgin Registry Office:             01343 554600

Nairn Registry Office:            01667 458570

Inverness Registry Office:     01349 781131

Aberdeen Registry Office:     03000 200 292

Registering a death and obtaining a Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14) are necessary for national records and for the closing of bank accounts etc. It has historically been helpful to purchase extra copies of this document however most banks, etc., now allow for this document to be uploaded digitally. You can always purchase additional copies should it become necessary.

• Cremation or Burial
• Legal Issues
• Role of the Wilkies Wood Co-ordinator
• Burial Costs
• What does a green burial in Wilkies Wood entail?
• The Ceremony and who can hold it
• Useful Business Contacts
• Procedure for Reserving a Lair