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Transfer of Burial Rights.

West Kilbride Cemetery West Kilbride Cemetery and the Isle of Arran

Does your family currently hold title to a burial lair?

If so, it is important that the lair is not held in the name of a deceased family member as this has recently become a requirement in cemeteries administered by the council in North, East and South Ayrshire.

Cases where the lair holder has recently passed away present no immediate problem but situations have recently arisen where the lair owner has been deceased for some time. If this is the case, transfer of the burial rights must take place before permission is granted for interment.

This transfer required a statutory declaration to be written and signed in the presence of a J.P. or notary public. This can be a lengthy process and not one any recently bereaved families would want to get involved in whilst dealing with the difficulties of a family death. William Wallace & Son strongly advise that title deeds are checked now and any changes that are required be acted on immediately.

For more information on this issue, please contact us .

How to register a death in Scotland



When to register

The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages must register the death within eight days. But it
is desirable to have the death registered as soon as possible.

A death that happens in Scotland must be registered in Scotland, even if the deceased person's usual residence was outwith Scotland and the body is to be taken out of Scotland for internment.

Registration of a death must also take place before cremation.

Who should register?

The death may be registered by any relative. This includes:

  • the spouse or civil partner of the person who died
  • a relative by marriage or civil partnership
  • any person present at the death
  • the executor or other legal representative
  • the occupier of the premises where the death took place;
    or, if there is no such person any other person possessing the information needed for registration.

Where do I register?

Deaths may be registered either by the registrar for the registration district in which the death
took place or, if the person had lived elsewhere in Scotland, by the registrar for the
registration district of the deceased person's home address, whichever is more convenient.

You can get the address of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the area by calling William Wallace & Son on 01294 822114.

What should I take?

  • Medical certificate of death (known as Form 11)
  • Any certificate or document relating to any pension or allowances which the deceased was
    receiving from public funds.
  • NHS medical card (if available)
  • The deceased's birth and marriage or civil partnership certificates (if available).

Things to tell the registrar

The full name, occupation and postal address of the person and his/her date and country of birth.

Also tell the registrar if the person was:

  • married or a civil partner.
  • widowed or a surviving civil partner.
  • divorced or his or her civil partnership was dissolved or annulled.

Tell the registrar the full name and occupation of the deceased's husband, wife or civil partner. If the person had been married or in a civil partnership more than once, you should also give the registrar details of previous spouses and civil partners.

If the person was married or a civil partner at the date of death, tell the registrar

  • The date of birth of the surviving widow, widower or civil partner.
  • The full name and occupation of the deceased person's father
  • The full name and maiden surname of his or her mother.
  • Whether the person was in receipt of a pension or an allowance from public funds.
  • The name and address of the person's NHS doctor.

What the registrar will give you.

  • A Certificate of Registration of Death (known as a Form 14), to be given to the funeral director so that the funeral can go ahead.
  • A form 334/SI, "Registration or notification of death" for use in obtaining or adjusting
    Social Security Benefits or for National Insurance purposes.
  • On payment of the appropriate fee, an extract of the entry recorded in the Register of
    Deaths.

You may need an extract of the entry to get information about the person's assets. This could include things such as their pension, insurance policies, savings, and Premium Bonds.

What to do if someone dies abroad.

Register the death according to the rules in the country where the person died, and get a certificate of death.

Although not required, you may also be able to register the death with the British Consul.This would mean that a record of the death will be kept in Scotland, and you would be able to get a copy at a later date from the General Register Office for Scotland (Tel: 0131 334 0380).

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