Death certificates - finally arrived... now quick question!

martin2345uk

We registered mum's death on November 17th and the registrar said she'd send 3 certificates in the post - to date they have not arrived, is this normal? It feels like we can't really do that much until they get here so I feel a bit helpless and in limbo :-(

kipsterno1

It seems a touch long but you have to remember you are dealing with the local authority. The certificates will have been produced on the day but then placed in an out going tray. From there they will have gone to the post room for franking before bagging up for posting. 
I think it was five days before they arrived.
I would see what the post brings on Monday and if they aren't there chase them up.

MovingForwards

Mine were ordered the day after and arrived today. I had to order them online. It's down to how busy the department is.

Can I check you did pay for them? If not, then they haven't been ordered. 

gettingtheresometime

I had my husband's the day after registering his death

martin2345uk

MovingForwards said:

Mine were ordered the day after and arrived today. I had to order them online. It's down to how busy the department is.

Can I check you did pay for them? If not, then they haven't been ordered. 

Yep paid online before the appointment. Will chase Monday then - thanks guys. 

martin2345uk

Called them and they said to give it 10 working days, which is Wednesday, and if they still haven't come to call them back then.

Ah well. Tomorrow is the funeral which I am dreading like you wouldn't believe so I will forget about this for now and just focus on trying to hold it together to get through the day 

Brie

Sorry for your loss - it's always a difficult time, even if the death itself was unexpected.  

martin2345uk

Ugh, still no sign of them - called the Registrar number today and the nice lady said she would get the central registration team to call me to "see what we can do"

I just want to get on with stuff but I feel I am stuck in limbo without the certificates 

SiliconChip

martin2345uk said:

Ugh, still no sign of them - called the Registrar number today and the nice lady said she would get the central registration team to call me to "see what we can do"

I just want to get on with stuff but I feel I am stuck in limbo without the certificates 

You're right, there is very little that you can do without the certificates, so it's pretty poor that the council involved have taken so long - I registered my mum's death in October two days after it happened and the certificates were with me the following day. If "see what we can do" turns out to be nothing much I would suggest contacting a local counciller for your mum's area to ask them to interced on your behalf.

martin2345uk

They finally arrived today! Thank goodness.
Another question... which number is the "death certificate number" that some companies ask for? The 6 digit one next to "BCJ" or the 3 digit one next to Entry No.?

kipsterno1

Each certificate has an individual number. The companies that ask for them know this.The actual entry in the register has a unique reference number. Is there a number near the bottom of the certificate, maybe left side? If yes are they all the same?

Edit - Its called the system number.