It can take some time to process and complete a death certificate following a death. A death certificate is a legal document and can only be completed by a doctor who has met the deceased or in discussion with a coroner. Not all doctors work full-time and sometimes the necessary doctor is not immediately available. If the certificate needs to be discussed with the coroner this process can sometimes take a few days. The surgery will ensure your death certificate is available as soon as possible but it is important that you are aware that is may take up to 5 working days.

The death certificate will then be emailed over to the registrars, and we ask that the family then make an appointment with the registrars on 0300 555 1392.

Information regarding the processes when someone does die are listed below.

If someone dies at home and their death was expected

Call your GP Surgery or if out of hours, call 111. If applicable call their nearest relative. If the death was expected, for example due to a terminal illness, in most instances the doctor will issue a medical certificate of the cause of death to allow the death to be registered at the Register Office. A Death Certificate will then be provided. Having spoken with the GP practice and when you feel ready to do so, you can contact a funeral director.

If someone dies at home unexpectedly

Call 111 immediately and ask for advice. An unexpected death may need to be reported to a coroner. A coroner is a doctor or lawyer responsible for investigating unexpected deaths. They may call for a post-mortem or inquest to find out the cause of death. This may take some time, so the funeral may need to be delayed.

If someone dies in hospital

The hospital will usually issue a medical certificate and formal notice. They will support you with the next steps you need to take. The body will usually be kept in the hospital mortuary until the funeral directors or relatives arrange a chapel of rest, or for the body to be taken home.

If someone dies abroad

If someone dies abroad, register the death according to the regulations of the country. Register it with the British Consul in the country too, so you can get a consulate death certificate and a record can be kept in the UK.

How do I go about arranging a funeral?

The person who died may have left funeral instructions in their will or a letter about their wishes. If there aren’t any clear wishes, the executor or nearest relative will usually decide if the body will be cremated or buried and what type of funeral will take place.

Helping with funeral costs

You may be able to get a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund if you’re on a low income and meet the criteria. There are strict rules about who can get help and how much you will receive. You must be claiming Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits and had a close relationship with the person who died – for example, you may have been their partner. If you don’t qualify for a Funeral Payment – or it doesn’t cover the full costs of the funeral – you may be able to get a Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund. These are interest-free loans of between £100 and £1500 that you repay from your benefits.