Bereavement

In times of bereavement

If death occurs at home

Telephone the doctor who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.

Contact a funeral director.

Arrange to collect the doctor’s Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery).

Take this to the Registrars Office, (together with the deceased’s Medical Card and Birth Certificate, if available) for the area in which the death took place. Alternatively you can register by declaration at any convenient Registrars Office but certificates will not be available as these will have to be posted to you a few days later.

The Registrar will normally issue a Green coloured certificate for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Registrar will also issue a white notification certificate for the DSS. They will also enquire as to the number of Certified Copies you require for dealing with the deceased finances (a fee is payable for each copy).

If death occurs at a hospital

Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required

Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow the fourth and fifth step as above

Note for cremation

Your funeral director will usually liaise directly with the surgery regarding the additional certification required.