What to do when someone dies?
It is perfectly normal to be unsure of what to do following the loss of a close friend, family member or loved one. That’s why we are here to support you through the process and guide you through the various steps that are involved following a bereavement.
When a death occurs at home
You will need to contact the deceased’s own G.P (or the Doctor on duty) who will certify that death has taken place and, if he or she is able, issue a death certificate. It is most likely that this certificate will need to be collected from the Doctor’s surgery when completed. (If the Doctor has referred the death to the Coroner then please see below).
Once the Doctor has given permission to proceed, please contact us where someone will be available to respond sensitively and efficiently to your call. Our staff will then attend promptly and arrange for the deceased to be transferred to our Chapel of Rest. Our staff are fully trained in order to handle this difficult event with care and respect. Do not feel that this has to take place immediately; some families wish to wait until other family members have had an opportunity to say their goodbyes at home. You are always welcome to visit our Chapels of Rest at a later date once an appointment has been arranged with the Funeral Director.
It is advisable to contact your Funeral Director as soon as you feel able to discuss the funeral arrangements. Preliminary and provisional arrangements may be made, if so required, in advance of the registration of the death.
To contact us please telephone us on 024 76375665, we are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
When a death occurs at a nursing or residential home
The above procedure is likely to have been carried out, with your permission, by the Matron or Warden who will advise you of where to collect the Certificate.
Registration
When someone dies, the doctor who was treating the deceased will issue a medical certificate of cause of death to the relatives. The person who will be registering the death must take this certificate to the Registrar’s Office.
Every death in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which it takes place within 5 days of the date of death. The person registering the death gives information for the registration to the registrar. Due to space restrictions, only one other person will be able to accompany the informant into the Registrar’s Office, unless it is essential to do so.
If it is inconvenient for the person registering the death to go to the district where the death took place, the information for the registration may be given to the Registrar in another district by declaration. Please contact the appropriate Register Office if you need to follow this route. If the declaration procedure is used it will take longer for the document allowing the funeral to proceed to be issued.
Who can register a death?
The people who can register a death are as follows;
• A relative of the deceased, related by blood, marriage or civil partnership.
• Someone present at the death.
• The occupier of the house or hospital if he or she knew of the death.
• The person arranging the funeral.
The Registrar would normally allow one of the other listed persons to register the death only if there were no relatives available.
Which deaths need to be reported to the coroner?
A small number of deaths have to be reported to the Coroner before they can be registered. They are:
• Where there is no doctor who can issue a medical certificate of cause of death.
• Where the deceased was not seen by the doctor issuing the medical certificate after death nor within 14 days before death, or where the cause of death is unknown, or
• Where the cause of death is believed to be unnatural or suspicious, or
• Where the death occurred during an operation or before recovery from an anaesthetic, or
• Where the death is due to an industrial disease or industrial poisoning.
Once the death has been reported to the Coroner, the Registrar must wait until the Coroner has decided whether any further investigation into the death is necessary, before the registration can proceed.
Information to be supplied for the registration of a death.
• Date and place of death.
• Name and surname of the deceased
• Maiden surname, if the deceased was a woman who had married
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation
• Name and occupation of spouse where the deceased was married
• Usual address
• Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
• If the deceased was either married or a civil partner, the date of birth of the surviving partner will be required
The deceased’s medical card, if available, should also be given to the Registrar.
It is important that the information entered into the register is correct. Mistakes discovered after leaving the office, can be very time-consuming for you to have altered.
You should check the details VERY CAREFULLY in the death register before you sign.
If English is not the first language of the relative or other person registering the death and assistance is needed, it would be helpful for someone else to accompany him or her to the Registrar’s Office and act as an interpreter. However, the relative or the person must register the death personally, as a helper cannot register instead of them.
Where can I get further advice?
If after reading this information, you have further questions or need more advice, please do not hesitate to contact us at our offices where we will be pleased to help you.
When you go to the Registrar
Things To Take With You
• The Medical Certificate of the cause of death
• The Deceased’s National Health Medical Card
• The Deceased’s Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate
The Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificate contain all the information required by the Registrar.
The Registrar Will Give You
• A Green Certificate – which must be handed to the funeral director so that the funeral can take place
• A White Certificate – this is for social security purposes
The Registrar Will SELL You Copies of the Death Certificate
You may need these for:
• The Will/Solicitor
• Bank Accounts
• Any Pension Claims
• Insurance Policies
• Savings Bank Certificates
• Premium Bonds
Contact Details for Local Register Offices
Appointments will be required for all Register Offices
NUNEATON REGISTER OFFICE:
Riversley Park, Coton Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5HA
Tel: 0300 5550255
9.00am – 4.00pm
HINCKLEY REGISTER OFFICE:
Atkins, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, LE10 1QU
Tel: 0116 3055611
Mon-Thurs 9.30am – 12.45pm & Fri 9.30am – 4.00pm
ATHERSTONE REGISTER OFFICE:
North Warwickshire Borough Council, South Street, Atherstone
Tel: 0300 5550255
COVENTRY REGISTER OFFICE:
Cheylesmore Manor House, Manor House Drive, Coventry CV1 2ND
Tel: 024 7683 3129
Mon-Fri 9.30am – 4.30pm
LEAMINGTON SPA REGISTER OFFICE:
Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 5HZ
Tel: 01926 428807
Mon-Fri 9.00am – 4.00pm
RUGBY REGISTER OFFICE:
5 Bloxham Place Rugby CV21 3DS
Tel: 0300 5550255
Mon & Fri 9.30am-5.00pm, Tues – Thurs 9.30am-2.00pm
LEICESTER REGISTER OFFICE:
Town Hall
Town Hall Square, Leicester, LE1 9BG
Tel: 08450450901
Mon-Fri 9.30am – 3.30pm
