From 9 November 2026, birth, death and stillbirth registrations across England and Wales will move from paper registers to an electronic register.

The existing Registration Online system, known as RON, will become the official register. Informants and registrars will no longer sign a paper register page.

The change will also allow local registration services to offer remote registration, initially for deaths and stillbirths by telephone.

Will telephone registration be available everywhere?

Not necessarily. The facility for remote death and stillbirth registration will be available from 9 November 2026. However, it will not be a mandatory service.

Each registration district will decide whether to offer telephone registration from that date. Members should check the arrangements with their local registration service before advising families.

In-person registration will remain available in all registration districts across England and Wales.

What will happen during registration?

All informants will need to make a verbal declaration that the information they have provided is correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. This declaration replaces the signature previously entered in the paper register.

Registrars will continue to check the documents needed to confirm that the event has taken place. For a death, this may include the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or relevant coronial paperwork.

People registering a birth will also need to provide evidence of their identity in place of signing the paper register.

Will online registration be available?

Not immediately. The General Register Office has confirmed to SAIF that online registration will follow later. The policy and system arrangements are still being developed. Telephone registration is a form of remote registration. It should not be confused with the future online registration service.

SAIF will share more information when the arrangements for online registration are confirmed.

Will the format of certificates and other documents change?

No. The General Register Office has confirmed to SAIF that paperwork will continue to be received in the same way and documents issued after registration will remain in the same format.

What should funeral directors do?

Members may wish to:

• contact their local registration service to ask whether it will offer telephone death registration
• confirm whether the service will be available from 9 November
• check how telephone registration will be arranged locally
• update guidance provided to families where necessary

Telephone registration should not be described as available in every area until local arrangements have been confirmed.

Clear local information will help members guide families accurately and avoid unnecessary confusion at a difficult time.

Where can members find local information?

Members should check with the registration service responsible for the area where the death occurred.

SAIF will continue to monitor national guidance and share further information as local arrangements and plans for online registration develop.

Frequently asked questions