The First Practical Steps
Wherever a death occurs, in Hospital, Nursing Home, or at home, you must notify a Doctor as soon as possible. If your loved one has been in Hospital or has been a resident in a Nursing Home, this will be done automatically.
The Doctor will then complete and sign the Cause of Death Certificate. However, if the cause is not known, the Coroner may have to be informed, which could cause a delay in the issuing of the Death Certificate, especially if a Post Mortem is required.
Registration of a Death and Documentation
In England and Wales a death must be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the area in which the death has occurred. If you are unsure whether or not you have the authority to register the death, we will advise you. The death must be registered within 5 days.
The Registrar can only be seen by appointment, Monday to Friday.
We can arrange the appointment and transport to the Registrar’s office if required.
National Bereavement Partnership
CRUSE Bereavement Care
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau
When registering a death you should take the following:
The medical certificate with cause of death
National Medical Card of the Deceased
Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate of the Deceased
You should inform the Registrar of the following:
Full name of the deceased
Their home address
Date and place of birth
Last occupation
Whether they were in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
Date of birth of surviving partner
If the deceased was a married woman, the following is required:
Maiden name
Husband’s full name (even if deceased)
Husband’s last occupation (even if deceased)
From the person wishing to register the death, the following is required:
Your full name
Your address
Your relationship to the deceased
The Registrar will give you the following:
A certificate of burial or cremation (known as the Green Form) unless the death has been referred to the Coroner. This form must be handed to the Funeral Director.
A Certificate of Registration of Death (White Certificate). This form is for Social Security purposes only.
The death certificates. These forms are required for the will, pension claims. closing bank accounts etc. The Registrar will make a small charge for these copies.
All documentation, paperwork and legal forms are completed by ourselves and handed to the relevant authorities to allow the funeral to take place. All information is treated with absolute confidentiality.
