Bereavement

In times of bereavement

If death occurs at home
– Telephone the surgery 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 disceased’s medical card and birth certificate, if they are 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 able 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.

If the death occurs in hospital
– Contact a funeral director.
– Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow steps four-five (as above).

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