In Times of Bereavement
In Times of Bereavement
In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days;
- Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
- Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
- Make the necessary funeral arrangements.
Register the death
If the death has been reported to the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) they must give permission before registering the death.
You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.
You can use the ‘Register a Death’ page on the gov.uk website that will guide you through the process. This will also explain the registration process for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Arrange the funeral
The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.
Funeral directors
Choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:
These organisations have codes of practice – they must give you a price list when asked.
Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.
Arranging the funeral yourself
Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.
Funeral costs
Funeral costs can include:
- funeral director fees
- things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
- local authority burial or cremation fees
Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.
Tell us Once:
Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go.
When you register the death the registrar will:
- let you know if the service is available in your area
- give you the phone number
- give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service onlineor by phone
CRUSE Bereavement Service:
Other Services
http://Final Suicide Bereavement Resource Feb 2019.pdf
http://Children & Young Adults Bereavement-and-loss-CYP-Hampshire-090620.pdf
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Bereavement Support Links
- Cruse Bereavement Care
Surrey Heath and Farnham tel: 01483 565660
Hart and Rushmoor tel: 01264 336006/01264 335569
- Brigitte Trust
www.brigittetrust.org – Surrey Heath and Farnham
Tel: 01306 881816
- Child Bereavement UK
provides support for families and professionals when a child dies or when a child grieves.
Helpline: 0800 028 8840
- Marie Curie
www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/bereaved-family-friends
Tel: 0800 090 2309
- At a Loss
provides useful bereavement resources www.ataloss.org
- Thames Hospice
provides pre and post bereavement services, including specific services for children and young people. www.thameshospice.org.uk/patients-emotional-support
- Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care
provides support to those whose loved ones have died under the care of Phyllis Tuckwell.
Tel: 01252 729430 email: pafs@pth.org.uk
- Independent Age
provides a range of information and advice, including welfare, legal and financial. www.independentage.org/information/personal-life/when-someone-dies
Tel: 0800 319 6789
- A Child of Mine
provides emotional and practical support to bereaved parents and families. www.achildofmine.org.uk
Tel: 07803 751 229
- Daisy’s Dream
provides support and information to bereaved children and families, working predominantly in Berkshire and the surrounding areas. www.daisysdream.org.uk
Tel: 0118 934 2604
- Shooting Star Children’s Hospice
provides bereavement support to families across Surrey. www.shootingstar.org.uk
Tel: 01483 230960
- Naomi House & Jacks Place
provide one-to-one counselling and bereavement support in a number of areas including Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey www.naomihouse.org.uk
Tel: 01962 760060
- Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice
provides support to bereaved families and the wider community across Berkshire and surrounding areas. www.alexanderdevine.org
Tel: 01628 822777