Late death registration/probate

[Comosus]

I recently came across an entry of a person on the death index, where the death was registered in December. However, cross-checking with the Government wills and probate database, it seems they died in July and the probate wasn't granted until December. I'm not very familiar with the procedures around death/probate as I haven't had to deal with it myself yet. However, I was wondering why there might be a 5 month delay in a death being registered? Is this normal or unusual? For all other deaths that I have recorded, they appear to have been registered within a couple of weeks after the death.

Edit: I should also add that there is an obituary online, with details of the funeral to be held in July.

Thanks

[rosie99]

I wonder if there was an inquest or similar that held up the death registration. The death certificate would indicate this.  Probate cannot be applied for until you have a death certificate

[Comosus]

I wonder if there was an inquest or similar that held up the death registration. The death certificate would indicate this.  Probate cannot be applied for until you have a death certificate

The strange thing is that there is an obituary online, including a date of the funeral to be held in July. Can a funeral still go ahead without a death registration, or if there is an inquest into the death?

[StevieSteve]

Seems so

Cert I received yesterday from Oxfordshire 1845 had a chap dying from diarrhoea on 6 March, (buried on 9 March) but death registered on 30 April by the Coroner

I suppose they didn't go in for too many toxicology tests in those days (or just got them done quicker!)

[Bookbox]

I recently came across an entry of a person on the death index, where the death was registered in December.

If you're looking at an entry in the GRO death index, remember that a registration in December Quarter may relate to a death from the very end of September onwards. You will need to get the death certificate to find out if there was an inquest which might have delayed registration.

[MaureeninNY]

I had asked the same sort of question some years ago regarding an 1851 death which probably should have been recorded in April....but wasn't until September.

Paperwork piling up was basically the answer.

AntonyMMM is on this forum. He may provide a clearer explanation.

Maureen

[Comosus]

I recently came across an entry of a person on the death index, where the death was registered in December.

If you're looking at an entry in the GRO death index, remember that a registration in December Quarter may relate to a death from the very end of September onwards. You will need to get the death certificate to find out if there was an inquest.

It is a very recent death however, in the last decade, where registrations of death are recorded by month rather than by quarter.

[stanmapstone]

Seems so

Cert I received yesterday from Oxfordshire 1845 had a chap dying from diarrhoea on 6 March, (buried on 9 March) but death registered on 30 April by the Coroner

I suppose they didn't go in for too many toxicology tests in those days (or just got them done quicker!)

If an inquest was held, the death will be registered in the quarter when the inquest was completed. Particularly if there was an adjournment, this may be some time after the actual death and the entry may be in a later quarter than you anticipate. The coroner can authorise the burial before the inquest, but the death cannot be registered until after the inquest verdict

Stan

[MaureeninNY]

Just to note on my reply-I wasn't speaking of Qtrs but actual months.
Don't have the cert in front of me but I think the death was March 30 and the death reg was Sept.6.

Maureen