Bereavement

• If the Death Occurs in Hospital
• If the Death Occurs Elsewhere (expected and unexpected Death)
• Reporting a Death to a Coroner
• Registering a Death
• When does the Death need to be Registered?
• Who can Register the Death?
• What is needed to Register the Death?
• Funeral Arrangements
• Legal Advice
• What is Probate and Do I Need It?

If the Death Occurs in Hospital

The hospital staff will contact the person named by the deceased as next of kin. The body will remain in the hospital mortuary until the executor arranges for it to be taken away.  The hospital will arrange for the nearest relative to collect the deceased's possessions.

If the Death Occurs Elsewhere

Expected Death

Contact the doctor who attended the deceased during their final illness. If the doctor can certify the cause of death he or she will give you the following:

• A Medical Certificate that shows the cause of death (this is free of charge and will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the registrar).
• A Formal Notice that states that the doctor has signed the Medical Certificate and tells you how to get the death registered.

Unexpected Death

You should contact the following people:

• the family doctor (if known)
• the deceased's nearest relative
• the deceased's minister of religion
• the police, who will help find the people listed above if necessary.

If there is any reason to suspect that the death was not due to natural causes, do not touch or remove anything from the room. The death may be referred to the coroner.

Reporting a Death to a Coroner

In any of the following circumstances the doctor may report the death to the coroner:

• an accident or injury
• an industrial disease
• during a surgical operation
• before recovery from an anaesthetic
• if the cause of death is unknown
• the death was sudden and unexplained, for instance, a sudden infant death (cot death)

In this case the death cannot be registered nor the funeral take place, without the Coroner's Authorisation. Where a death is reported to the Coroner, the Coroner's Office will contact the relatives.  A Coroner can order a post-mortem examination without getting the relative's permission, and may call for an inquest.  In such cases the Death Certificate will be issued direct to you from the Coroner's Office and the relatives must then go to the Registrar to register the death. When an inquest is to be held, the death cannot be registered until its conclusion, but a certificate will normally be issued at the opening of the inquest to allow the funeral to take place.

Registering a Death

The death must be registered in the District Register Office where it occurred.  The office for Fleet and District is at Aldershot.  It is also possible to make a declaration to register the death before any Registrar in England and Wales to be posted to the Register Office for the district where the death took place, however this may cause a delay in the funeral arrangements.

When does the Death need to be Registered?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a death should be registered within five days of its happening. Registration can be delayed for a further nine days provided the Registrar receives, in writing, confirmation that a medical certificate of the cause of death has been signed by the doctor.

Who can Register the Death?

People with legal responsibility to register include:

• a relative of the deceased
• a person present at the death
• a person arranging the funeral - This does NOT mean the funeral director.

What is needed to Register the Death?

The Registrar will interview you in private and will need to know the following information:

• the date and place of death.
• the full name and surname, and maiden surname if the person who has died was a married woman.
• the date and place of birth.
• the occupation and, if the deceased person was a married woman or widow the full name and occupation of her husband.
• the usual address.
• if the person who has died was married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse.
• whether the person who has died was receiving a pension from public funds.

You will need to bring:

• the medical certificate of cause of death issued by the doctor treating the person who has died. If the death has been referred to the Coroner, the Coroner's Office will advise you what to do.
• if the deceased received a pension or allowance from public funds, please inform the Registrar.

You will receive the following documents:

• a "Green Form" which enables you to arrange the funeral.
• a form for Social Security purposes.

Funeral Arrangements

The choice of a firm of funeral directors is important as you should feel comfortable and confident with them.  All have a code of practice and should give you an estimate of costs - their own and those fees they will pay on your behalf and add to the account. You can ask for this estimate in advance and it's a good idea to ask different firms to quote so that you can compare costs.  Your funeral director can make all the arrangements for the funeral, burial or cremation, religious or secular service.

Legal Advice

If you have any difficulty in dealing with the deceased's property, possessions or guardianship of their children, you can get advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice Bureau.  You can get the leaflets Legal Aid Guide and Getting Legal Help from a Citizens Advice Bureau, public library, police station or a court, to find out if you can get legal aid.

What is Probate and Do I Need It?

A probate is a document issued by the Probate Registry confirming that an executor has the right to wind up an estate of the person who has died. The "executor" is named in the deceased’s Will, if there is not a will you should consult a solicitor.  When the estate is very small often no probate is needed. Probate services are offered by solicitors, but you can also apply directly to the Probate Registry yourself.