If someone dies in the Black Country and you want to move their body out of England, you will need to ask the coroner to sign a completed Out of England form (Form 103).
To arrange for a body to be taken out of Out of England please discuss with your funeral director who will explain the process.
There’s no restriction on moving bodies within England and Wales.
On a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday it is only possible to obtain permission from the Coroner to take a body out of the country if the death has been registered and a Death Certificate issued. The times for Registration vary for each local authority and below is a summary of the available times for each authority in the Black Country:
Sandwell: 9am until 1pm - Every weekend and Bank Holiday excluding Christmas Day.
Sandwell out of hours registration
Walsall: 8.30am until 12pm on Saturday. 9am until 10am on Sundays and Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day.
Walsall out of hours registration
Dudley: 9am until 12pm on Saturday. 9am until 10am on Sundays and Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Dudley out of hours registration
Wolverhampton: 9am until 12pm every weekend and Bank Holiday excluding Christmas Day and Easter Sunday (Registration of death will be the next working day).
Wolverhampton out of hours registration
The Coroner is available on weekends and Bank Holidays to deal with Out of England requests between 10am and 1pm excluding Christmas Day.
Documents you will need
To apply to move a body Out of England you will need the following documents:
- A Form 104 (‘Form of Notice to a Coroner of Intention to Remove a Body out of England’) - you can get this from either the Registrar who registered the death or from your funeral director who will complete the form on your behalf.
- The deceased’s passport
- The passport of the person applying (next of kin) to take the body out of England
- The death certificate issued by the Registrar as proof of registration (where the death isn’t being investigated by the Coroner).
If the death isn’t being investigated by the Coroner and your application is approved, the Coroner will issue Form 103 to your funeral director. You should not make travel arrangements until your funeral director has received the Form 103 from the Coroner.
If the death is being investigated then it will take longer as a digital scan/post mortem may need to take place.
On a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday it is only possible to obtain permission from the Coroner to take a body out of the country if the death has been registered and a Death Certificate issued.
During this time the Registrar and Coroner are only available during certain times. Please contact your local Registrar for details. The availability of the Registrar and Coroner excludes Christmas Day.