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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 doctor or hospital 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 doctor 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 £1995.00

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 £950.00

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, third party cost 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...

“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

“Dear Beth,

Just a short note from all of us to say “Thank You” for all the effort that you applied to ensure that Sarah’s funeral passed so seamlessly.

If it can be described as a “Great Day” (which I know will sound odd) I mean it purely in terms of the balance between sadness and celebration was met – that also the weather was perfect, the co-ordination between service and committal was excellent, the flowers so beautiful and everyone played their part so well. It was largely down to you that it did work so well.

So a “Big Thank You”

Barry, Jemma, Matthew, Josie and William

“Would you please pass on our thanks to the young lady who conducted the burial of Joyce Ashby last week. She was so kind to Jean my very elderly cousin especially on the ride back in the Limo taking us through Richmond Park and chatting all the way. We then went on to have a family picnic in Jean’s garden in the sunshine a lovely way to remember Joyce and the perfect day for Jean. Very many thanks from all of us in North Wales.”

Sheila, Keith & Rhoada Ashby

“Dear Judy,

Thank you for all your hard work and great communication for the arrangement of mum’s funeral. Even though the restrictions limited certain things, everything ran so smoothly. We were able to celebrate mum’s life with a lovely service and great help from you and all at Alan Greenwood funeral services on the day.”

Yvonne and Peter Richardson

Dear Chloe,

We just wanted to all thank you and the rest of Alan Greenwood team for providing excellent service for organising and conducting our mother’s funeral – The day went perfectly.

Mike

“The family would like to thank you and the whole team at Greenwood’s for your warm and professional service. We were delighted with your attention to detail and the relaxed but respectful manner of the Attendant and Bearers on the day itself. Many of our friends commented on the ‘dignity with lightness of touch’ and said it was one of the best-organised funerals they had attended. It was certainly a very different experience from my father’s funeral twelve years ago, and we shall recommend you wholeheartedly to others.”

Carole Day and Family

“Dear Donna,

Just a little something to say thank you very much for all of your kind support during a very difficult time.

You really went above and beyond to help us and it was truly appreciated.

Thank you for helping us organise such a personal and fitting service for Margaret and everything else that you did for us.”

Bill, Sandra, Vicki and Family

“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

“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

“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

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