Service
Register a death in Ireland
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Temporary arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic which allowed deaths to be registered without a relative having to attend at a civil registration office came to an end on Thursday 30 September 2021 with the reopening of HSE civil registration offices.
Contact your local HSE civil registration office for opening hours and for more information on how to complete the registration of a death.
Contact details for your local civil registration office can be found on the following websites:
In the first instance, all COVID-19 deaths are reportable to the Coroner in whose operational area the death occurs. Deaths resulting from this disease may be registered upon receipt of a Coroner’s certificate and there is no requirement on any other family member or next of kin to act.
Following a death, a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased must complete and sign part 1 of the Death Notification Form (DNF). Part 1 includes the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (MCCD).
This form is given to a relative or civil partner of the deceased, or if there are none, to another qualified informant (see list below of other qualified informants).
This form is then used to register the death. A relative, civil partner or another qualified informant must register the death within 3 months of the death occurring.
A qualified informant is:
(a) a relative, civil partner, cohabitant, next of kin, personal representative or religious superior of the deceased who has knowledge of the required particulars
(b) a person present at the death
(c) any other person who has knowledge of the required particulars
(d) if the death occurred in a building used as a dwelling or a part of a building so used, any person who was in the building or part at the time of the death
(e) if the death occurred in a hospital or other institution or in a building or a part of a building occupied by any other organisation or enterprise, the chief officer of the institution, organisation or enterprise (by whatever name called) or a person authorised by the chief officer to perform his or her functions
(f) a person who found the body of the person concerned
(g) a person who took charge of that body
(h) the person who procured the disposal of that body
(i) any other person who has knowledge of the death
There is no charge to register a death that occurs in Ireland. Fees are charged for a copy of a death certificate.
A certificate is issued for social welfare purposes at a reduced cost. Evidence it is for social welfare purposes is required, such as a note from the department.
Where an Irish citizen dies abroad and they were ordinarily resident in Ireland within 5 years of their death, it is possible to have the death recorded in the record of deaths abroad.
The Department of Social Protection asks for your opinion on the current process for notifying and registering deaths. Further information on the Public Consultation on Revision of Death Registration Process.