Final and Interim death certificates

In England and Wales, a final death certificate is issued at the local Register Office if  there is  a medical certificate of death issued by either the doctor or HM Coroner.  To find out who can register a death visit  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/WhatToDoAfterADeath/DG_10029642

If the Coroner opens an inquest to investigate how, when and where the person died, there will be an Interim death certificate, which may not show a medical cause of death.  When the inquest is  over, HM Coroner tells the Registrar to register the death.  The final death certificate is then available.