Apostille Death Certificate UK

Apostille a death certificate in 3 easy steps.

In order to apostille a death certificate, you simply need to follow the 3 basic services as described below. You have the option of have us apostille your document only after the document is solicitor certified/notarised yourself, or alternatively you can also send us your original documents, we can take a copy, have it certified by a solicitor and go onto apostille it at the FCO office. We can offer a 2 day or same day service.

Please select below:

#1

Complete our quick online order form to select the service. Click here to access the form

#2

Send us the order form and the original version of your certification for inspection.

#3

If you require us to certify the original, or a photocopied version to be solicitor certified, then please let us know. Please note we would require the original anyway.

Upon receipt of the documents, we will then have the document certified by our solicitor and then apostilled at the FCO accordingly after this and returned straight back to you

For more information about Apostilling a death certificate, please read below where we have the most common questions answered.

Section 1: Death Certificate Apostille

In the UK, when someone dies, their death needs to be registered with the UK government. To register a death, you need to obtain a medical certificate from the hospital or the GP who pronounced the person dead. The death registration process can take anywhere from 5 to 10 days.

The British government offers a “Tell Us Once” service to help you report the death to relevant government bodies, such as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Passport Office Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (VLA), in one go.

According to data published by the Office for National Statistics, more than 150,000 deaths were registered in England in the first quarter of 2018. This number was significantly higher than that reported for the same period for each of the past five years.

Families that need to settle the estate of the deceased or sell property outside the UK require a death certificate. However, when death certificates are required by overseas authorities, such as government bodies, courts and solicitors, the death certificate might need an apostille (attestation).

In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the London embassies legalise documents by placing an apostille stamp on the document. An apostille stamp validates the document as been genuine and the signatures on it to be original.

An apostille death certificate includes a raised seal and a serial number. If required, this information can be used by overseas authorities to identify whether the apostille is authentic or not.

Section 2: General Queries about Apostilled Death Certificate

1. Why an apostille is required on a death certificate?

The Hague Convention that came into effect on January 14, 1965, abolished the requirement to legalise Foreign Public Documents. Under the treaty, any document issued by a member country must be attested or legalised to be used across all other member (signatory) countries of the Hague Convention.

The aim of getting legal documents like death certificates, birth certificates, passports, etc., apostilled is to prove their authenticity such that it can be accepted in other countries. Legalisation or attestation of UK death certificates with an apostille stamp may take a few days. However, it is a necessity, since without the stamp, the document will not be recognised in a foreign country. When settling an issue regarding the deceased's property in a foreign country, you may also need to apostille probate documents and the copy of the will.

2. What information is required to get a death certificate apostilled?

In many situations, a death that has taken place in the UK needs to be registered overseas. It becomes necessary to validate the document or the death certificate issued in the UK with an apostille. Hague member countries have agreed to recognise the apostille certificate as a procedure to legalise documents, including death certificates. Death certificates will not be accepted in signatory countries unless they have been apostilled.

When applying for a death certificate apostille, remember that it can be authenticated from the same state in which it has been issued. There are certain documents that can have the apostille certificate attached to their copies. However, with death certificates, one can only get the original document or an official copy issued by the General Registry Office apostilled. You should also know that a notarised death certificate will only work when used within the UK.

3. Why would you require an apostille on a death certificate?

People mostly get a death certificate apostilled when it is requested by foreign organisations and authorities. This mainly happens when the family members have to deal with the estate of the deceased. In London, apostille for a death certificate is also required when power of attorney needs to be given to an overseas legal representative or family member.

The process to get an apostille stamp on a legal document is known as legalisation. The apostille validates the death certificate to be used outside the UK. Having a apostille certificate attached to the death certificate ensures that the signatures and seal present on the death certificate are authentic and all the information is true. This spares the overseas authorities from requesting for further proof or evidence.

4. What is the process of getting a death certificate apostille with RLS?

Rapid Legalisation Service is a reputed death certificate spostille service in London that works with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the London embassies to get legal documents like birth, marriage and death certificates, deeds, wills, contracts and passport legalised. In addition to professional apostille services, RLS also offers notarisation services and FCO legalisation of all documents.

With RLS, the apostille for a death certificate can be achieved in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Fill an online order form to apostille a death certificate & pay the fees via credit card/bank transfers
Step 2: Certification at the FCO (done by RLS)
Step 3: Apostilled document issued and delivered back to you.

5. How long does it take to get a death certificate apostilled?

Rapid Legalisation Services offers different packages, based on the client’s needs for document legalisation. Normally, a document can be legalised in 1-2 days. You can choose from:

• Apostille Same-Day Delivery
• Apostille 2-Day Delivery

6. How much does it cost to apostille a death certificate?

The cost of apostille or to authorise a death certificate mainly depends on the type of service you choose. Based on the time of delivery, the prices may vary as follows:

• Apostille Same–Day Service: £135 (FCO Fees £75 and VAT £10)
• Apostille 2-Day Service: £78 (FCO Fees £30 and VAT £8)

Additional FAQs