Genealogy Chat

If somebody died in Hospital is it likely that a rellie would be the informant on the Death Cert, as I am sure its one of her daughters and there is an address for her.Or is it always the Doctor present.

I think that if no family member were present to sign as Informant, then the doctor would step in and do it. Actually, I have received a cert yesterday for the death of a child at the Royal Hospital Waterloo Road - his father was informant - so, no, it wasn't always doctors who signed. Hope that's helped.

thanks I wasnt sure if it was always the doctor that did it.And as the daughter had a fairly unusual name I now know her husbands name too .

My mother died in hospital and I was the informant on her death certificate. What the doctor signs is the medical death certificate, which is what you have to take to the registrar to register the death. Kath. x

No, the informant can be anyone Val. The registration isnt made on that day - when my darling dad died my sister wasnt even at the hospital but she went in the following day to register the death and is shown as informant.

thanks for your replies I only sent for this because one of her daughters got married the same month, and they are the ones I can find no trace of after their wedding, was sort of hoping that daughter would be the informant.

I am the informant on my Dads death cert.

I have a death cert for somebody who died in hospital and her husband was the informant. Kate.

thanks for your replies I am now going to research the address of the informant thanks

Valerie I used to be a trained nurse and my name now appears on a few certificates because I was often present at the death and was responsible for getting hold of the doctor in order to certify the death, therefore I became the informant, hope that helps Elaine

I am the same as Kathleen. My mum died in hospital and I was the informant. I made sure that I gave as much information as possible for the death certificate so that it will help any of my descendants who might want a copy in 200 years time!!

Elaine thanks for that, and Angela why help our rellies let them struggle like we do.

Teresa thanks for your reply what a shame , as sometimes the informant is a great help , thats how I managed to find a long lost Aunt by the informants address.

Informants are usually relatives. Doctors wouldn't have any time to doctor if they were constantly tripping off to the register office! I have some certs where the informant is a neighbour, but its usually the spouse, parent or child of the deceased. Where there is an inquest, the informant is the coroner. More info about informants on death certs here: http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/deaths.htm#COL9