When A Death Occurs
When a death occurs there are many decisions to be faced. As your local funeral director we offer you the service to support and guide you during your bereavement. It is important that you know there is help available at this distressing time.
If a death occurs at home
As soon as possible, inform the doctor that the death has occurred. The doctor will then visit to certify the death. Then contact us and we will arrange a suitable time to convey your loved one to the chapel of rest. At a convenient time we will meet you at your family home or you can to visit our premises to discuss the preliminary arrangements for the funeral. We will arrange with the local doctor to issue a Medical Certificate, which will be required for registration.
When a death occurs in hospital
You will normally be informed by the hospital who will then issue a Medical Certificate. Once the death has occurred it is important to advise us so that appropriate arrangements may be put in place.
If a death occurs suddenly
If the death is unexpected and the deceased has not been recently seen by the local doctor recently, the death will be reported to and handled by the Coroner. The procedure is somewhat different, but the Coroner and his/her officers are working in your interest.
Contact should be made with ourselves as soon as possible in order that we can assist with the handling of this procedure, relieving the family of further distress.
Registration
A death must be registered in the county in which it has occurred. Whenever possible this should be done by a near relative/executor.
The Registrar will require the Doctor’s certificate of the cause of death. In some circumstances a Coroner’s certificate will also be required.
The Registrar will also require the following information;
- National Health Number of the deceased
- National insurance number
- Date and place of death
- Full name of the deceased
- Maiden surname (if married)
- Date and place of birth
- Home address and postcode of the deceased
- Occupation of the deceased (even if retired)
- Occupation of spouse or civil partner
- Name and address of informant and their relationship to the deceased
- If the deceased is married or in a civil partnership at date of death, the date of birth of the surviving partner.
The Registrar will issue a green certificate (unless otherwise issued by the coroner) which you should hand to ourselves as soon as possible. The Registrar will also issue a white certificate of registration which will cancel any social security benefits and also the state pension.
The Registrar will also issue certified copies of the entry into the Register which you may need for legal or estate matters, e.g. life insurances, probate, banks, savings certificates, premium bonds and any other financial interests. A small fee is applicable for these certificates.
We will provide transport to the Registrar if required.
