Persons qualified and liable to act as informants
The rules and regulations are contained within the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 as amended by the Coroners Act 1980.
In these regulations it sets out as persons qualified to give information concerning a death in order of preference they are:
Deaths in Houses and Public Institutions (including hospitals)
A relative of the deceased (including a common law spouse) present at the death;
A relative of the deceased in attendance during the last illness
A relative of the deceased, residing or being in the sub-district where the death occurred;
A person present at the death;
The occupier if he knew of the happening of the death;
Any inmate if he knew of the happening of the death;
The person causing the disposal of the body. Including executors or legal representatives of the estate.
Deaths not in houses or dead bodies found.
Any relative of the deceased having knowledge of any of the particulars required to be registered;
Any person present at the death;
Any person who found the body;
Any person in charge of the body. Including executors or legal representatives of the estate.
The person causing the disposal of the body.