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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...

“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

“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

“We would like to thank you for a friendly and professional service and especially Adam who made a good job of the service, and a big thanks to Jane who was a great help and showed much kindness. We would recommend your company.”

Chris & Mike Whalen

“Dear Fran

I just wanted to drop you an email to thank you for all your care and support in the arrangements for my dad, John.

I know that my Mum, Valerie, was most grateful for your support and care, particularly last Friday which was a difficult day for her. Mum said to me that you went over and above in her eyes, making sure she was ok before you would let her leave.

Dad would have highly approved of the day yesterday, and that’s all we could have asked for. It really was the celebration of his life that he would have wanted.

Again, my sincerest thanks and gratitude to you all.”

Helena

“We just wanted to say a huge thank you for everything you did for us. You certainly made a very emotional and difficult time so much easier to bear. We are so grateful for the support you gave us and your gentle guidance along the way. Everything was perfect thanks to you and we would highly recommend you to all. With very best wishes.”

Family of Stanley Stearman

“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

“Thank you for the care and support you gave to us all at the funeral of Annette Streetley, we did appreciate you kindness as we first stepped through the door at your Claygate branch and the days following. I know Tony, Rachel & Andrew were extremely grateful”

David & Betty Wakeford

“Dear John,

Thank you for the wonderful service, support and help you offered me and the way you looked after my partner Bob, after he passed away.

From the professionalism and courtesy your team showed on that most traumatic moment – taking Bob from our house – to your kindness, and surefooted advice, the recommendation of the Celebrant, and then your kindness in coming to the cremation as well.

It’s been the hardest month or so of my life and yet I was so pleased with how the service went, the wonderful order of service you arranged and helped me with and of course the music as well. Throughout it all you treated me with respect, dignity and gave me such helpful advice. I’m not sure I would have managed well without that. Even more, I can now look back and reflect that the day went well and represented my partner and our love so well.

I think it’s important to thank people when they have done such a great job.”

Douglas

“Thank you very much indeed for all your professionalism, support and guidance throughout the whole process involved in caring for my mother.

From the moment we met the staff at Holmwood Nursing Home until my collection of thank you notelets for my father to use I felt that everything was conducted in a most efficient and sensitive manner. I know that Clive spent a good deal of time with you and I was so pleased that we were able to have such a beautiful service very soon after the passing of our dear mother and wife. With thanks once again”

Jane Reg & Clive

“I would like to say a huge thank you to both Carina at Alan Greenwood and Sons in Frimley and the Celebrant. When my mother-in-law passed, we had absolutely no idea what we were doing other than needing to contact a funeral directors. After calling, Carina invited us into the Frimley branch for an informal chat and made us feel at ease straight away. She talked us through every step whilst being compassionate, caring and professional during the whole process. It was a difficult time that was made so much easier by the way Carina and Maria handled everything. When the Celebrant contacted us we were unsure of what we wanted for the service, with his knowledge and understanding he helped us to put together a service that was both relaxed, professional and perfectly suited to us. Thank you to the whole team!”

Sarah

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