Thurrock Register Office: Registering a Birth or Death and Giving Notice of Marriage in Grays

Thurrock Council runs its own register office. Opening times and arrangements are the council's, so use the links below for the current position.

Where is the register office?

The council's birth registration page gives Thurrock Register Office as Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, RM17 6SL, phone 01375 372 822, email register.office@thurrock.gov.uk, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

How do I register a birth?

The council's page says:

• by law a birth must be registered within six weeks (42 days), and registration has to be in person
• if your baby was born in Thurrock, make an appointment with Thurrock Register Office by phone or email
• if the parents were married at the time of the birth only one needs to attend; if not, both must attend so both parents' details can be recorded
• there is no charge to register a child's birth, though you may buy a certificate at the time
• the registrar interviews you in private about the baby and parents, including names, places of birth and parents' occupations

The council also says it cannot register the birth of babies born outside Thurrock, even if you live there. For Basildon Hospital you contact Essex Register Office, for Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent Register Office, for Queen's Hospital in Romford, Havering Register Office, and for Southend Hospital, Southend Register Office. If you live in Thurrock and cannot travel, you can attend Thurrock Register Office, which will take the details and email them to the correct office, and you contact that office separately to buy a certificate. GOV.UK gives the same 42 day limit.

How do I register a death?

The council's register a death page says:

• a death should be registered in the district where it occurred, and if it took place in Basildon Hospital you should contact Essex County Council
• deaths are referred to an NHS medical examiner or, in some cases, the Essex Coroner's Service
• the medical examiner issues the medical certificate of cause of death to the register office, with contact details of the person who must register
• once the council receives the certificate and your contact details it contacts you to make an appointment, and you attend Thurrock Register Office
• people who may be required to register include a relative or partner, someone present at the death, the person arranging the funeral, or an official of the building where the death occurred
• you will be asked for details including the date and place of death, the person's full name, date and place of birth, occupation and usual address, and it helps to know their NHS number

GOV.UK's what to do after someone dies says you must register within five days of getting confirmation from the medical examiner's office, counting weekends and bank holidays, and that you then receive a certificate for burial or cremation to give to the funeral director.

How do I give notice of marriage?

The council's giving notice page says:

• you sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to marry or form a civil partnership
• you must give notice at least 29 days before the ceremony, or at least 70 days if you are subject to immigration control, and hold the ceremony within 12 months
• to marry or form a civil partnership in Thurrock you give notice at Thurrock Register Office in Grays
• you usually need an appointment at your local register office and must have lived in that district for the past seven days
• after notice is given it is displayed on the public notice board for 28 days

On booking a notice appointment, the council says it is currently unable to take notice appointment bookings online, and you request one by completing a form and emailing it. The same page lists the documents and photos needed for people subject to immigration control. GOV.UK gives the same 29 day rule.

Ceremonies and certificates

The council's marriage and civil partnership registration page points to its ceremonies and venues page for ceremonies at Thurrock Register Office and other approved premises, and lists fees and charges and ordering a copy certificate. Fees are on those pages and change, so we do not copy them here.