Births, deaths and marriages

Birth

Register a birth at the Derbyshire County Council website.

Deaths and Burials

The death of a loved one is a distressing time. Many people find the most convenient way to advise the Council of this is to use the Tell Us Once service.

You normally need to register the death within five days. It's best to go to the register office in the area in which the person died, otherwise it may take longer to get the necessary documents and this could delay the funeral arrangements.

To make an appointment to register a death please contact the relevant register office

Arrangements for the funeral usually take place once the death certificate has been signed. It is common for most people to seek the services of a funeral director, however you may also arrange the funeral yourself.

Funeral arrangements

Funeral Directors

If you are using a funeral director, you should choose one who is a member of either:

Both of these organisations follow codes of practice such as requiring funeral directors to provide clear pricing. A funeral director offers a long list of services. Some examples of what they do include:

  • Handling and submitting all the paperwork and legal documents, including registering the death.
  • Dealing with the deceased’s personal affairs and estate.
  • The arrangements for the funeral, such as providing a basic coffin, the transportation of the body and organising of a ceremony.

Arranging the funeral yourself

Family and friends of the bereaved may arrange the funeral themselves. To do so, you should get in contact with a local Register Office.

Funeral costs

The costs of arranging a funeral can include:

  • Funeral director fees
  • Cemeteries fees and charges 2024-2025 such as burial or cremation fees
  • Cemetery fees
  • Headstone or plaque
  • Newspaper announcement or obituary
  • Ceremony at local church or place of worship
  • Flowers
  • Catering for guests
  • Paper sheets with hymns

Documents and Forms

Application Forms for Burial Service:

Application Forms for Long Term Memorials:

If you need to make direct contact with us, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01629 761130.

Please note that at present we are not accepting applications for the pre-purchase of grave spaces in Council owned cemeteries.

Memorial safety

Derbyshire Dales District Council have begun safety testing of memorials in Council owned Cemeteries. This is essential work which is carried out to ensure the safety of visitors, employees, and contractors. The purpose of memorial safety is to identify and address any memorials that may pose a risk of falling or causing injury.

Memorials found to be unsafe will be carefully stabilised. In most cases, this will involve attaching the memorial to a wooden stake affixing a label to indicate that the headstone is unsafe. In certain circumstances, where a memorial cannot be secured, it may be necessary to lay the memorial flat to prevent accidents. If you are a deed holder and your headstone is identified as unsafe you will receive a formal notification in writing withing 10 working days.

Derbyshire Dales District Council would like to remind owners that memorials remain their property and responsibility. It is the responsibility of the grave owner to arrange for repairs to be carried out by a qualified monumental mason. For safety and quality assurance, all work must be undertaken by a mason registered with the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM) and completed to BRAMM’s recommended standards.

We understand the sensitive nature of this work and appreciate that it may cause concern for some. Please be assured that every effort will be made to carry out these checks with the utmost care and respect.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation as we carry out this important safety work.

Marriage

Information in getting married or forming a civil partnership on the Derbyshire County Council website.

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