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Written by Adam McIlroy.
9 minute read
On 9 September 2024, new regulations came into effect around death registration in England and Wales. There’s no need for concern, but these changes have had an impact on how long it can take to arrange a funeral.
We’ve put together a short guide to explain what’s changed, why it matters and what it might mean for you or your family. We’ll also cover common questions like ‘Who is the medical examiner?’ and aim to offer some clarity during what we know can be a difficult time.
On 9 September 2024 the most significant change in fifty years to the death-certification process in England and Wales was made. The regulations were improved after several reports highlighted the need for change.
The good news is that the new regulations will simplify the certification process. And, if we are organising a loved one’s funeral, they will help to prevent any potential distress that we can experience through unreasonable and unnecessary delay.
For those of us organising a funeral for someone, the main change in the process relates to the role of the ‘medical examiner’.
The ‘medical examiner’ is a senior doctor with two main responsibilities: When someone dies, they are typically given a ‘cause of death’ by the doctor who attended them. The medical examiner needs to check that this cause of death is correct. They also need to help the doctors to look for any potential issues with the care that the person received before they died.
The loved ones and close friends of those who’ve died can also ask the medical examiner their own questions about the cause of death, or raise concerns themselves about the standard of care that was given if they need to.
In the old system, before we could register a death (assuming that a coroner wasn’t involved, which had a different process), a form called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) would have needed to be sent to the registrar. The doctor attending the person who has died would send this form to the registrar, either directly themselves, or via the person’s next-of-kin.
In the new system, it’s much simpler: the medical examiner will let the registrar know when the death can be registered. This is a really important step because, without this registration process, the funeral can’t legally go ahead.
When someone died under the old system, either a doctor who attended them, or a coroner, needed to complete some paperwork which would then be sent to the crematorium. This was to ensure that the cause of the person’s death was reasonable and accurate, and to rule out any suspicious circumstances before their cremation or burial took place.
Historically, a doctor who looked after the person during their last illness was able to issue the MCCD explaining the cause of death. But, if the doctor had not seen the person within the last 28 days of their life, then they would have needed to refer the death to the coroner. This is where a lot of possible difficulty and hassle could come in for bereaved families.
Now, with the new changes, any doctor who looked after the person who has died in their lifetime can issue the MCCD, regardless of whether they’ve seen them in the last 28 days of their life. They can even propose a cause of death where it is appropriate, but, if they do so, it will be scrutinised by the Medical Examiner. Where there is no doctor who knew the person who can give the MCCD, then the medical examiner themselves, after careful scrutiny of medical records, can step in and do so.
The main advantage to us with the new system is that it ensures that deaths aren’t referred to the coroner unnecessarily, which is an important change. If we are arranging the funeral of a loved one and their cause of death is referred to the coroner, it can be distressing and can cause delays even where no action is taken.
It also rules out the possibility of delays arising from not being able to find a doctor who knew the person in their lifetime, since the medical examiner now issues the MCCD themselves.
However, please remember that, if there are suspicions around how someone has died, or if their death requires further enquiry, the coroner is still able to open an investigation.
Another positive change for us with the new regulations concerns a different aspect of the required paperwork. Previously, a doctor would need to complete some of the cremation paperwork themselves before the cremation took place.
Doctors charged £82 to complete this paperwork, and there were restrictions surrounding which doctor was able to do it. This sometimes led to funerals being delayed and resulted in an additional cost incurred for the family.
Now, this paperwork is no longer required prior to cremation. Not only does this make the process quicker, but it means there is also one less thing for the family to pay for.
Once the cremation has taken place, the crematorium will issue a cremation certificate confirming that it occurred. Understanding the difference between a cremation certificate and death certificate can help ensure all the necessary paperwork is in place, especially if you’re handling legal matters or travelling with ashes.
We hope that you have found this short explanation of the changes to the regulations useful. If you’re currently organising a funeral for a loved one, we want you to feel as comfortable and as informed as possible. Please remember that you can always call our Angel team if you have any questions with the required admin; they’re here to support as much as is needed.
As of 9 September 2024, the process of registering a death in England and Wales has been updated.
Key changes include:
A Medical Examiner now confirms the cause of death for all non-coronial deaths.
The Medical Examiner, not the attending doctor, now sends the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to the registrar.
Any doctor involved in the person’s care (not just one seen in the last 28 days) can now issue the MCCD.
The £82 cremation paperwork fee has been scrapped.
The Medical Examiner is a senior, independent doctor. Their role is to:
Review the cause of death provided by the attending physician
Speak with families if needed, to explain or answer questions about the cause of death
Check the quality of care received by the person before they died
Refer the death to a coroner, if appropriate
Previously, the attending doctor or family would send the MCCD to the registrar.
Now:
The Medical Examiner handles this directly.
Once the cause of death is confirmed, they notify the registrar.
You can then book an appointment to register the death and receive the official death certificate.
The £82 fee for cremation paperwork has been removed.
Before the changes:
A second doctor had to complete special cremation forms
This often caused delays and extra costs for the family
Now:
No additional cremation forms or fees are required
This simplifies the process and saves time and money
In most cases, yes. The changes aim to:
Reduce delays caused by waiting for a doctor who saw the person recently
Avoid unnecessary referrals to the coroner
Speed up the paperwork needed to hold the funeral
Under the old system, this could mean a referral to the coroner.
Now:
Any doctor who cared for the person in their lifetime can issue the MCCD
If none are available, the Medical Examiner can issue it after reviewing the records
Yes. If the death is:
Unexpected
Unexplained
Suspicious
Then the Medical Examiner must refer the case to the coroner.
But with the new rules, fewer unnecessary referrals should happen.
Yes, once the Medical Examiner sends the MCCD to the local registrar,
you or another qualified person must:
Book an appointment with the registrar
Register the death and collect the death certificate
This is required before a funeral can legally go ahead.
These updates aim to make the process:
Faster by reducing delays
More affordable by removing the cremation paperwork fee
More supportive through contact with the Medical Examiner, who can answer questions
Easier for people arranging funerals during a difficult time
Absolutely. If you’re arranging a funeral, Aura’s Angel team is here to:
Talk you through the process
Answer questions about registration or documentation
Handle admin on your behalf where possible
You don’t need to face the paperwork alone.