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Registering the Death

How to register a death

Knowing what to do when someone dies can be overwhelming and stressful. Registering the death is one of the first steps that you will need to take as this should take place within five days of the passing. However, you may not know how to register a death or what you need to do. 

It is the medical referee who issues the medical certificate that you need in order to register a death. Once you have the medical certificate, you will be able to register the death at a registry office, which should be done in the area where the deceased died. However, if this is not possible, you may need to go to your local registrar. 

In some instances, going to a registrar outside of the area the deceased died could delay arrangements slightly. This is because they will have to forward the declaration to the registrar’s office where the death occurred. In order to register a death, you may need to make an appointment with the registrar in advance.

There are some religions which mean that a body must be buried and the necessary arrangements can be made to respect this.

Who can register a death?

A relative or family member tends to be the person who registers the death of a loved one> However there are a small number of others who can register the death for you. These include:

  • Someone present at the death
  • An occupant of the house where the death occurred
  • An official from the hospital where the death occurred
  • The person making the funeral arrangements

What you need to take with you

When you meet with the registrar for your appointment, you may need to take some documentation with you. These include:

  • The medical certificate signed by a medical referee or coroner
  • Deceased’s NHS medical card (if available)
  • Birth and marriage certificate (if available)
  • Council tax bill
  • Driving licence
  • Proof of address
  • Passport

If you are not able to provide these documents, you will need to contact the registrar beforehand to see if they can advise on how to ascertain these documents and which documents you are likely to need at the appointment. 

What will happen when you register a death?

When you register a death, you will be asked some simple questions by the registrar, which will usually only take around 30 minutes. After this meeting you will then be issued with a death certificate.

Extra copies of the registration of death certificate can be obtained for a small fee, which will be needed for legal or financial purposes. Therefore, it may be necessary to have a few copies.

The registrar will also issue you with a green certificate for the burial or cremation, which will be required by the funeral director. You will also be given a white certificate of registration of death which is used to cancel payments of pensions and allowances from public funds.

Information the registrar needs to know about the deceased

When you register a death, you will be asked some questions about the person who has passed away. You will need to make sure that you have all of this information to hand during your appointment. 

It is a good idea to write down this information before the appointment as this can be an upsetting time and you may not be able to remember all of the details that are needed. The information that the registrar will need includes:

  • The date and place of death
  • Their full name (maiden name if applicable)
  • Their home address
  • Their occupation
  • Details of any pension or allowance from public funds
  • If married, the date of birth of the surviving spouse

Once you have the death certificate you will be able to proceed with notifying organisations and making funeral arrangements. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your options and the different services that we offer. Whatever your requirements are, we can help and arrange it for you.

Compassionate and Professional

Your calls will be taken in person locally not by a call centre, with complete confidentiality, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Funeral arrangements can be made at our premises, at your home or via email.

Simple Service Cremation £2195.00

To a local crematorium or cemetery, the day and time is at our discretion, a coffin of our choice included. Third party costs are not included and need to be added to the above cost. Local crematoria cost can be found on this website by clicking the pricing tab.

Unattended Cremation £1195.00

When no service and no attendance is required. Day, time and crematorium at our discretion. Provision of our choice of coffin, suitable for the purpose of cremation.

Cremation Fee Included.

Has Someone Passed Away?

We understand at this difficult time you need someone to guide you through it all. We’re on hand to help after someone you love dies.

Arranging a Funeral

We’ll talk you through the process and what’s involved, so that you can make the right decision both for you and your loved ones.

Pre-Paid Funeral Agreement

Funeral plans

As a company we are not a funeral Plan provider.

We are though in most circumstances able to carry out instructions from a funeral plan purchased from a third party. Please contact us, to discuss your needs.

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A Few Kind Words...

“I would like to say a big thank you for everything. I had nothing to worry about, it all went so smoothly from the day of his death to the end of the funeral and in the circumstances could not have been better. Thank you so much.

I don’t have a great deal of experience in these matters, but compared to the other funeral directors I had to deal with, Greenwoods are the tops and you personally were a pleasure to deal with, you hit absolutely the right note.”

Ann Bishop

“We would like to thank you very much for looking after Mum and for all the arrangements you made for her funeral last Thursday. Your professionalism, help and ready advice together with your sensitivity at such a difficult time was much appreciated by us all. Our best regards.”

Nigel, Colin Ian & Coraine Ferguson

“Just a wee note to say a huge thank you for your amazing support, care and friendship when helping us to arrange my dad’s funeral. Although it was such a difficult time for us as a family, you ensured that we were so well looked after & that everything went perfectly. Our tears often turned to laughter in your company & that’s because you helped us remember the good times.

Thank you for everything from the bottom of our hearts. We would also like to thank the whole team involved in helping before, during and after my dad’s funeral. You truly are amazing, showing such dignity, compassion, care and professionalism. Thank you.”

Karen, Anna & family

“Thank you for all your kind attention during the funeral of my husband John on the 24th May. The arrangements were so efficiently and sympathetically handled that it lifted a huge burden from my shoulders. I enclose a cheque in favour of the Alzheimer’s Society in memory of my beloved John.”

Catherine Waterman

Dear Mr Alan Greenwood, I cannot thank you and your team in Bookham enough, for the excellent service they provided in every respect in the Cremation of my wife.

Your resident Funeral Consultant Mary fully explained all we needed to understand and advised the options available to us.

Her in depth knowledge of all the service providers including, Order of Service, authors and print selection, Celebrant, Hall and refreshments.

So many things which without her I would have been lost.

In the past few days I have received so very many complements and praise for the service you gave.

Do please allow other potential clients to share our experience.

Yours sincerely

Terry Eves-Thorpe

Sheila Eves-Thorpe

“Dear Jo,

Thanks so much for all you did leading up to the funeral. None of us could have got through it without your support.

Many thanks for everything you did for us, for all your help and for making a very sad day so easy. Your support has been amazing.

A huge thank you. Your dedication made saying farewell to Mum all the more bearable.”

Sue, Vicki, Clare & Richard

“I cannot believe that a month has passed since we first met, the day after Brian died. Within a short time of our encounter, I know that an occasion I had always dreaded would be transformed into a positive, memorable occasion – and so it was!

Your warm and practical attitude, as well as highly professional advice, immediately instils confidence. Every detail of the proceedings is meticulously explained and I felt completely relaxed. Thank you Jess for making everything work so well. You are a remarkable lady with a definite vocation and I wish you all the very best for the future. I felt I found a real, new friend, just when I needed it most.”

Irene

Dear Cindy,

I just wanted to say thank you for yesterday and please thank all the gentlemen who helped us. Everything ran very smoothly and they were excellent.

I was also very happy with the service booklet and photographs.

Lyla

“Thank you so much for the care you took of mum and help and kindness you showed us making a very sad time so much easier to bear. With very best wishes and a very big thank you.”

Claire, David & Pia Stevens

“Dear David and Hannah,
Just a quick note to say thank you so much for all your help and support over the last month or so.
The funeral was just as it should have been.
Your staff were lovely and the day went without a hitch.”

Michele & Caroline

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