Bereavement Advice

WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE DIES

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. You’ll get a ‘certificate for a burial’ to give to the funeral director, or an application for cremation which you need to complete and give to the crematorium. You must do one of these before the funeral can take place.
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. This can happen if the death is sudden or unexpected.

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:

National Association of Funeral Directors

National Federation of Funeral Directors

Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

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, order of service etc.
local authority burial or cremation fees

Funeral directors should list all these costs in their quotes.

Further information and support can be found at CRUSE by calling 0808 808 1677.

Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-support/

Cornwall Hospice Community Services Bereavement Support

Cornwall Hospice offer a range of free support services for those experiencing bereavement and loss.

Listening Ear Service: offer 6 calls of up to an hour for those who are feeling isolated by the loss of a loved one. Please note this is not a counselling service but offers signposting and a listening ear.

Virtual Community Friendship Cafe: on-line support space available through Facebook for those who want to meet online.

Walk Talk Kernow: a new walking group starting walks in April 2022, encouraging social connection whilst walking in nature.

For all groups:

Telephone: 01726 829874

Website: https://www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk/our-community-services/