This practical, step-by-step guide will help you to know what you might need to do when someone close to you dies. There can be a lot to sort out. You might want to ask family or friends to help you.
A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will include the deceased person's name, place and cause of death. When someone dies, this is issued by a doctor, who will confirm the cause of death, if it is known at this stage.
If a person has died at home, this will be issued by their GP. If they died in a hospital or care home, the staff at the hospital or home will issue the MCCD.
If the death was unexpected, sudden, the cause is not known, or a doctor had not seen the person during the two weeks leading up to their death, the police could be called and the local coroner might be contacted (or Procurator Fiscal if in Scotland),to carry out an investigation. This could result in a post-mortem taking place and possibly an inquest. This can take some time and could delay funeral arrangements.
You must have a MCCD in order to register the death at a local registry office. You will also need to appoint a funeral director. They can arrange collect the deceased and take them into their care.
It doesn't have to be what you might think of as a traditional funeral song. Take a look through your music selection, past and present, for ideas. You might want a soundtrack from a favourite film. Perhaps a song you and your friends sung and danced to in your youth. Maybe a piece of music which has lyrics which reflect what you love in life. Or for some, the choice might be a piece of classical music, or a hymn.
If you find out someone has died abroad, while you are in the UK, the British Consulate in the country where they died will tell the UK police and the police then tell the next of kin.
If you are told of someone's death by someone else, perhaps a tour guide or holiday rep, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) who will help you make arrangements and talk you through what you need to do.
If the person was serving in the armed forces, follow the steps on the Gov UK website.
When wanting to bring the body back to the UK, you will need to appoint a funeral director who specialises in repatriation. Ask the British Consulate for help with this.
This needs to be done within the first five days of someone passing away if you are in England and within eight days if you are in Scotland. This time includes weekends and bank holidays.
It will help if you can take with you the person's birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certficiate, passport, drivinglicence and NHS medical card, if you have these.You will also be asked for a medical certificate and cause of death, the full name, date of birth and occupation of their surviving or late spouse or civil partner, if applicable, as well as the person's last address and occupation.
You will need to take a death certificate to the deceased person's local Registrar of Births and Deaths. If this is not possible, a hospital or next of kin can phone the registrar to make arrangements, or you can use a registry office closer to you if this is easier. In England and Wales find a register office. In Scotland visit National Records of Scotland
If the death involves a coroner, you cannot register the death until the coroner's investigations are complete.
You will get a certificate for a burial which you give to the funeral director, or an application for cremation, which you will need to complete and give to the crematorium. You must do one of these in order for a funeral to take place.
Ask the registrar for several copies of the death certificate, as banks, building socieities and others will want to see original copies and you may have to send these in the post. There is likely to be a small charge for copies.
You will need to tell family and friends and possibly an employer. This can be distressing for you as well as them.
The Tell Us Once service enables you to inform all the relevant government departments when someone dies. You will also need to inform the deceased person's banks and building societies, pension providers, utility companies and landlord if they have one.
You can only arrange a funeral once the death has been registered. You can pay a funeral director to arrange a funeral, or arrange the funeral yourself. Most people appoint a funeral director to take care of all the practical things which need doing. This could include collecting and caring for your loved one, taking care of the necessary paperwork and helping you to organise a service. You can find funeral directors who are local to you and compare services and prices. Funerals often cost more than people realise. Check if your loved on had a funeral plan in place. This may cover costs and might include the person's specific funeral wishes.
Religious or non-religious funerals can be arranged. You may want to get in touch with a local florist. You may wish to ask mourners to donate to the person's favourite charity or good cause instead.
It doesn't have to be what you might think of as a traditional funeral song. Take a look through your music selection, past and present, for ideas. You might want a soundtrack from a favourite film. Perhaps a song you and your friends sung and danced to in your youth. Maybe a piece of music which has lyrics which reflect what you love in life. Or for some, the choice might be a piece of classical music, or a hymn.
State benefits may be available to help you if a spouse has died. Find out about the Bereavement Support Payment
The estate, what the person has left, will need to be valued and you will need to see if inheritance tax needs to be paid. You can get advice and guidance on the government website.
You may need to apply for probate before you can deal with money, property and possessions, known as the estate, of the person who died. Find out more on probate.
First, you will need to pay any debts or taxes owed by the deceased. After, you can then divide the estate, as set out in the person's will or as the law dictates.
You may need extra help in coming to terms with and coping with your grief. Cruse Bereavement Support is just one organisation there to help.
Feel free to contact us anytime for whatever reason. Rest assured, we’re here for you and your family.
