What to do when someone dies

There are 3 things you must do in the first few days after someone dies:-

• Get a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. From the Doctor or at the hospital, as you will need this to register the death.

• Register the Death. You need to do this in order for the funeral to take place.

• Arrange the Funeral. Your chosen Funeral Director will help you with this.

Sudden Death

If someone passes away suddenly, with no reason, at home or anywhere other in a hospital or care home facility then you must call 101. It is likely that in this event the Coroner will ask one of his/her approved Funeral Directors to later attend the place of death and to take your loved one to the nearest Hospital or to the Coroners own medical facilities.

Your first point of contact throughout the next few days will be the Coroner’s appointed officer and they will guide you and advise you when you should appoint a Funeral Director and when your loved one will be released by the Coroner for the funeral to take place. If you wish to call us to ask any questions or to nominate us we will be happy to receive your call.

At Home

Please contact the Doctor first, if this is out of hours you will need to call the “out of hours Doctor” who will come to your home to verify that death has taken place. You will then be able to request us to remove your loved one from our Chapel of Rest. This can be arranged at any time of the day or night by telephone. We will endeavour to be there within an hour of receiving a call in the locality. Your loved one’s GP will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to you to take the Registrars. In some cases, the out of hour’s doctor may report the death to the Coroner.

At a residential/nursing home

Although professional nursing staff are normally in attendance at all times within the Home, a Doctor will be required to confirm the death before we can remove your loved one. The nursing staff will call the Doctor on behalf of the family, then arrange for us to remove your loved one to our Chapel of Rest.

We are fully aware of the need to be discreet and respectful at all times when removing your loved one and we will endeavour to be there within an hour of receiving a call in the locality. Your loved one’s GP will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to you for you to take the Registrars. In some cases the out of hour’s Doctor may report the death to the Coroner.

Registering a death

You should register the death within 5 days. If a sudden or unnatural death has been reported to a coroner (Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) you can’t register the death until the coroner has given permission. Registering the death will take about 40 minutes – it is recommended to make an appointment.

You can go to any Registry office however if you use one in the same area as where the person died you will be given the documents immediately on the same day. If you use a different Registry office to where the person died the documents will firstly be sent to the local office in the area before they are issued to you which will incur a wait of a few days.

Who can register the death?

You can register the death if you are one of the following:-

A relative
You were present at the death
You are an Administrator from the hospital
You are the person making the Funeral arrangements

What do you need to take with you?

The medical certificate showing the cause of death (signed by a doctor)

And if available the following documents from your loved one:-

Birth certificate
Council Tax bill
Driving licence
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
NHS medical card
Passport
Proof of address (e.g. utility bill)

What information do you need to tell the Registrar?

Your loved one’s full name
Any names previously used, e.g. maiden name
Their date and place of birth
Their last address
Their occupation
The full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
Whether they were receiving a State Pension or any other benefits

You should also take supporting documents that show your name and address if possible (e.g. a utility bill) however you can still register a death without them.

What Documents will you receive from the Registrar?

When you register a death you will be issued with the following:-

A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the ‘green form’) – this gives permission for burial or cremation application
A Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8) – you may need to fill this out and return it if your loved one was receiving a State Pension or benefits (the form will come with a pre-paid envelope so you know where to send it).

If required you also purchase extra death certificates, the cost of this is £4 or £12 at a later date.

LOCAL REGISTRY OFFICES

Minehead Registration Office

Bank Street, Minehead, TA24 5DJ

Email: somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Phone: 01823 282251

Opening Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 3pm

Williton Registration Office

Becket House, Bridge Street, Williton, TA4 4NR

Email: somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Phone: 01823 282251

Fax: 01984 631884

Opening Hours: Monday 12 noon to 5pm, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Somerset Registery Office (Taunton)

The Old Municipal Buildings, Corporation Street, Taunton, TA1 4AQ

Email: somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Phone: 01823 282251

Fax: 01823 351173

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm

Hospital

The medical staff will take care of immediate arrangements and have your loved one taken to the hospital mortuary. The family would then be requested to attend the Hospital Bereavement Office to collect the necessary forms and personal effects.

International Repatriation & Long Distance Transportation

We understand what a difficult and confusing time it is when a friend or relative dies while traveling, living or working abroad. With our extensive experience in making arrangements for the repatriation of love ones to and from the United Kingdom, we are able to offer you the personal service and attention required to alleviate any worry and concern.

Some of the key aspects of the service we are able to provide to our international repatriation clients:-

We offer a full repatriation service to and from any country across the globe
We have a close working relationship with many Embassies, Consulates and Government Agencies, and we have a detailed awareness of the individual rules and regulations relating to documentation and permits for each country
We have a professional, collaborative relationship with Funeral Directors and repatriation agents around the world.
We are able to arrange transfer of your loved one from any hospital from abroad, arrange all relevant permits and documents, supply a coffin or casket suitable for transportation by air, and arrange the transfer of your loved one to the airport
We are able to arrange for the translation of the death certificate and all other relevant documentation into any language for the purposes of repatriation
We are able to arrange scheduled and charter flights for the transportation of your loved one to and from the United Kingdom
We offer a collection and delivery service throughout the mainland United Kingdom, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Care of a loved one

The last offices are usually carry out by a nurse shortly after death has been verily or we will do this at our funeral home, if you have any cultures procedures we are to follow please tell us immediately, we pledge to look after everyone who comes into our care with respect and dignity as they were one of our own family members, at all times a minimum of two members of our team will bring your loved ones into our care