Step by step guide
Although there are many things to consider after the death of a beloved member of family or friend, the following information details some of the more specific areas for consideration.
Should you feel you need any further clarification, assistance in any aspect of the funeral arrangements or indeed answers to any general questions you may have just give us a call and we’ll help in every way that we can.
The first thing you must do when you think someone has died at home is to contact the medical services - either ambulance service or the deceased's GP. They will confirm the death and make sure the appropriate Death Certification will be completed after discussing with the Medical Examiner.
If the person has died in hospital, the medical staff will certify the death then refer the death to the medical examiner who will contact the next of kin.
The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death in all cases if the coroner is not involved. The medical examiner will contact the next of kin once they are eligible to register.
Medical Certificates are sent electronically to the Registry Office and are not required to be collected from Hospitals of GP Surgeries.
Death's must be registered in the district that the death took place, not where the person lived.
Please contact W.S. Taylor & Sons Funeral Directors as soon as possible. We will help to guide you through this process. You do not need to wait until the death has been registered.
Registering a Death
Who Can Register The Death?
- A close relative (e.g. spouse, child, brother, sister, parent, guardian)
- A relative in attendance during the last illness
- A relative living in the district where the death occurred
- A person present at death
- The person responsible for arranging the funeral
How Do I Register The Death?
The death must be registered in the Registry Office for the district where the death happened. Our Funeral Director will advise you on which office you should go to.
What Documents Do I Need To Take To The Registrar?
- The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be issued by the Medical Examiner and sent directly to the Registrar.
- If you have them readily available, it is worth taking the deceased's Medical Card and Birth Certificate
- You Also Need To Give The Registrar The Following Information:
- Date And Place Of Death
- Full name of the deceased (maiden name if married woman)
- Home address
- Date and place of birth
- National Insurance number (this is needed for the tell us once service)
- Occupation, if married, full name of surviving spouse
The Registrar Will Then Give You:
- A Green Certificate which should be given to the funeral director as soon as possible. (Some authorities will send this electronically to the Cemeteries office).
- A White Certificate (BD8) for the Department of Work and Pensions. Commonly known as 'Tell us Once'.
- This is to stop any benefits and pensions from the DWP and should be handed in at the local office or sent in the envelope provided
- Certified copies of the death certificate for insurance companies, banks, building societies and solicitors.
These are currently £11.00 each and you can purchase as many as you need.
When Can I Arrange the Funeral?
Setting a funeral date
There are lots of things that will need to be in place before the funeral can be held.
Call W.S. Taylor & Sons Funeral Directors as soon as you are able. There is no need to wait until you have registered the death. We can start to discuss arrangements with you to find out the style of funeral you want and liaise with all the people who help the funeral take place.
At this point we will be able to give you some options for the date of the funeral.
What Happens If The Death Is Referred To The Coroner?
Why The Coroner Is Involved - There are certain situations where the coroner needs to be informed.
Usually the GP or hospital doctor will refer the case to the Coroner. Occasionally the registrar may refer the case to the Coroner if they are not satisfied with the cause of death. When The Coroner Might Be Informed:
- When the deceased was not attended by a doctor during their last illness
- If the death was violent, unnatural
- Or occurred under suspicious circumstances
- If the cause of death is unknown or uncertain
- If the death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation
- Or did not recover from an anaesthetic
- If the death was caused by an industrial disease
- If the death occurred in prison or police custody
- What The Coroner Does:
Once reported, the Coroner's Officer or a police officer will usually take a statement from the next of kin or close relative and you may need to identify the deceased. The facts will then be presented to the Coroner who will decide if a post mortem needs to be carried out.
Proceeding With The Funeral
We will liaise with the Coroner's Officer and keep you informed. Normally, the forms that we require for the funeral to take place will be issued by the coroner directly to the Funeral Director or the Registrar if the cause of death has been concluded.
Formally Registering The Death
You will need to register the death at some stage to obtain certified copies of the Death Certificate for insurance companies, banks, building societies and solicitors. These are currently £11.00 each and you can purchase as many as you need.
If an inquest is to take place, you cannot register the death until the full inquest is over, but you can obtain an interim certificate from the Coroner to arrange financial matters.
Get in touch
We serve families throughout the North East of England, please contact us to discuss how we may be of assistance.
