Death at Home
When a person dies at home, the next of kin or executor and the family doctor should be informed. The doctor who cared for the person during the last illness will complete a free Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (called the “medical certificate” hereafter).
The medical certificate must be taken to the Registrar of Births and Deaths within five days. In Scotland, you can visit any Registrar of Births and Deaths within eight days.
Ensure you visit the correct office and check opening times, as they may operate limited hours. The doctor may send the death certificate direct to the Registrar and not give it to you to take.
Death in Hospital
If someone dies in hospital, the medical certificate will be issued there. The deceased will be transferred to the hospital mortuary. Arrangements to deliver the medical certificate to the Registrar of Births and Deaths and to register the death are as above, under “Death at Home”.
The Registrar will be the one covering the Hospital area, which may be different to the home address of the deceased.
If the death occurs in a residential or nursing home, they may follow a similar routine as for that in hospital. In addition, they may have an arrangement with a funeral director for the removal of the body to a mortuary or a Chapel of Rest. This funeral director does not have to do the funeral for you.
The Coroner
If the death was sudden or due to an accident or no doctor had attended for some time, the Coroner must be informed.
On some occasions, the Registrar of Births and Deaths may also report the death to the Coroner. The Coroner will decide whether to hold a post-mortem and/or an inquest. As most cases are found to be due to natural causes, inquests are rarely required.
The Coroner will then notify the Registrar that the death can be registered. The person registering the death will need to visit the Registrar to do this. The Coroner’s Officer will keep this person informed about what to do.
As these arrangements may cause delay, you should not arrange the funeral until authorised by the Coroner’s Officer. The Coroner will issue an Order for Burial (white certificate) or for Cremation (yellow certificate) without charge. The certificate should be given to your funeral director or sent to the cemetery or crematorium as soon as possible.
When arranging the funeral, you are not obliged to use the funeral director appointed by the Coroner to transport the deceased.
Registrar of Births and Deaths
The Registrar can register the death only if he/she is given or has obtained the medical certificate or has received notification from the Coroner. He or she will require to know the following details about the deceased:
- FULL NAME – including any other names they were known by
- MAIDEN SURNAME – if the deceased was a married woman
- DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
- OCCUPATION – and their husband’s full name and occupation, if the deceased was a married woman or a widow
You will need to confirm the date and place of death. Other questions will be asked about the date of birth of the surviving spouse and information about the State pensions and allowances the person was receiving, including war pensions.
The NHS insurance number will be requested and the medical card of the deceased should be surrendered to the Registrar, if it is available. If the number is not known and the medical card unavailable, you can still register the death.
The Registrar will issue a free social security form to ensure that benefits are being paid correctly. If the Coroner is not issuing an Order for Burial or Cremation, the Registrar will issue a free certificate for this purpose. This should be given to your funeral director or sent to the cemetery or crematorium as soon as possible. For burial, the form is coloured green.
The Registrar will advise you over any further certificate copies you require and the cost involved. These will be for obtaining Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, to show banks, social security or building societies and to claim insurance.
The Deceased
While the above procedures are taking place, it is essential that the deceased is cared for.
With death at home, you should call your Funeral Director, as soon as possible. They will remove the deceased, take them to their Funeral Home and prepare them for viewing. The deceased may remain at their Chapel of Rest or may be returned home, should you so wish.
If the death was in hospital, your funeral director will collect the deceased and carry out your instructions.
Death Abroad
If you need assistance with repatriation then please contact us (01277 811064) or call Adam & Greenwood Funeral Home LLP (01245 496620) direct, for further advice. We have assisted several families but each one is unique and needs special attention.