Where Do I Start?
Losing someone close to us can feel unnatural and unreal because we deal so rarely with events like this in our lives. Even if the death was expected, you will still have feelings of numbness and shock, or be so upset that you find it hard or impossible to function. These responses are quite ’normal’ in this situation.
Is there a family member or a friend to whom you can turn for support and help in the first few days? Just having someone to lean on at this time can be hugely comforting.
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In the first few days after a death, it is often the responsibility of the person who is the most distressed to make the necessary practical arrangements. It can be helpful to have a friend or relative with you when you are working through these.
The information below has been created to help you, or your friend or relative, to cope with the first few practical steps.
We would like to offer you and your family our deepest sympathy at this time.
1. Informing the Registrar
When someone dies in England or Wales, the death has to be registered in the local district within FIVE days. You can find a register office by clicking here.
Since March 2020, because of COVID-19, registration has been carried out remotely (by telephone) and this remains in effect.
The GP responsible for the person who has died will provide the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (MCCD) or Certificate of Stillbirth, and inform the registrar. If the death occurred in a hospital, the medical examiner will inform the registrar.
The doctor will then send a copy of the MCCD to the registrar electronically, copying in 'The Informant’s' details. This is to ensure that the registrar received a copy of the MCCD, without which the death cannot be registered and the funeral service cannot proceed. It also serves with the issuing of death certificates for legal and other purposes.
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2. Register the Death
The registrar will then contact you and send any requested copies of the death certificate by post. Death certificates are £11.00 each and the fee is payable at the time of registration. It is useful to obtain documents or information relating to your loved one’s driving licence, passport, national insurance number, marriage certificate and birth certificate in anticipation of this call.
It may be up to five days before the registrar contacts you.
Information you will need to provide about the deceased:
FULL NAME
LAST ADDRESS
DATE OF BIRTH & PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH & PLACE OF DEATH
MARITAL STATUS & MAIDEN NAME (IF APPLICABLE)
OCCUPATION
IF WIDOW - LATE HUSBAND’S FULL NAME AND OCCUPATION
IF MARRIED WOMAN - HUSBAND’S FULL NAME AND OCCUPATION
You will receive:
A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ENTRY OF DEATH (Death Certificate)
N.B. You will need to obtain copies of the ‘Death Certificate’ for several purposes. Individual circumstances vary but you will need copies for insurances; bank accounts, private pensions; funeral plan providers etc.
The Registrar will ask for details of your chosen funeral director, and they will be issued with:
THE CERTIFICATE FOR CREMATION OR BURIAL (Green Form)
This form is the AUTHORITY for the funeral to take place. The funeral director must submit this form to the relevant authority at least 48 hours prior to the funeral.
ALL REGISTRATIONS CURRENTLY, WILL TO BE CONDUCTED BY TELEPHONE THE INFORMANT, SHOULD BE CONTACTED WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
Hospital Post-Mortem
The hospital doctor issuing the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death may ask you to consider a hospital post-mortem.
They will discuss this with you and explain the reasons.
Please note that only certain family members can give consent to allow this to take place.
A hospital post-mortem does not normally delay funeral arrangements and registration of the death can still take place. Further advice will be given by your funeral director and the hospital staff. If the doctor certifying death has sought a ‘Coroner’s Referral’ or if a post-mortem is required, the relevant papers will be sent by HM Coroner’s Office directly to the relevant district Register Office.
Read More3. Create the Funeral You Want with Blue Sky Funerals
You can start this process at any stage, even before registration. You can save your progress and pick up where you left off at any stage. You can share the decisions you’ve made with family members and make as many amendments as you wish, before even talking to our funeral directors.
With Blue Sky Funerals, you and your family are in control of the decision-making process. You can take as much time as you need. We provide you with all the information you need to arrange the funeral you want, whilst being in the comfort of your own home.
We will guide you through every step, explaining everything you need to know with complete transparency.
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