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What to Do When Someone Dies….
There is no rush to make decisions or take action at this stage, but you can call Family Tree at any time; we will tell you exactly what you need to do, and help and guide you through each of the different stages.
___1. Contact your Doctor, even if it’s late at night.
The doctor will come to the house, as soon as practically possible, to issue a Medical Certificate that confirms the cause of death. The person’s body cannot be moved until this has happened.
If you know that you would like the person to be cremated, tell your doctor – as they will need to prepare different forms and arrange for a second doctor to visit and countersign.
N.B. If the death was ‘sudden’ (i.e if the person had not been ‘attended by a medical practitioner during his or her last illness’, or had not been seen by a doctor during the last 14 days) the doctor will need to report the death to the coroner: they will also need to do this if it might be considered that the person died:
___Following an accident or injury
___Due to an industrial disease
___During a surgical operation
___If the cause of death is unknown
___Or if the death is unexplained.
If these apply, the person’s body will need to go to the coroner’s office for further examination. While it is upsetting to the family, currently standard practice in one third of all deaths, and is unavoidable. Generally, coroners' involvement need not delay the funeral.
___2. Contact Family Tree Funerals….. 01453 767 769
We will talk you through any aspects of the process that you need to know at this early stage. We will arrange a time to come and collect the person's body to take them into our care until the funeral, if this is what you want. We will make sure at this time that you know what to do next, and prepare you for the next steps: the authorities at each stage will also be very helpful about what to do next.
We will arrange a time to meet with you to discuss what sort of funeral arrangements you and your family would like.
___3. Call the registrar of the district in which the death occurred, and arrange a half hour appointment. This needs to be done within 5 days. Their working hours are 10am–4pm, and they close for lunch.
___Registrars for births and deaths are:
___01453 766 049 Stroud, Parliament St.
___01285 650 455 Cirencester, Sheep St.
___01242 532 455 Cheltenham, St. George’s Rd, GL50 3EW
___01452 425 275 Gloucester, Maitland House, Spa Rd. GL1 1UY (off Southgate St.)
___01452 425 000 Glos. County Council Office
Who can register the death?
___The next of kin, or a close relative of the person who has died.
___A relative in attendance during the last illness
___A relative living in the district
___If none of the above are available, a person present at the time of death eg. The Officer in charge of the Nursing Home, a solicitor or an executor.
For the appointment you will need:
___The certificate of “Cause of Death”, given to you by the person’s doctor.
___Their medical card, if possible.
___Birth and marriage certificates, if possible.
___The registration number of the person’s ‘government pension’ (if applicable)
The information the registrar will require include:
___The date and place of the person’s death
___The full name of the person who has died and their maiden name (if relevant)
___The date and place of their birth
___Their occupation and home address
___If the person is a married woman, her husband’s age and occupation.
___Information as to whether the person was receiving any state benefits or pensions.
The Registrar will issue, and explain:
___The Registrar’s Certificate for Burial or Cremation (The Green Form). This allows burial, or for an application for cremation to be made (see below). This form should be given to the Funeral Directors.
Certified Copies of an Entry. An official certificate that death has occurred and has been registered; additional copies will be needed for probate, bank/building society, and others involved in the administration of the person’s estate. (A small charge will be made for these, and generally at least three extra copies are needed.)
___The Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 344/Form BD8 or White Form) for Dept. of Social Security, if applicable.
The Registrar will also provide leaflets relating to bereavement benefits and income tax for the surviving spouse (if appropriate).
___4. Burial or Cremation?
Do you yet know if you would like a burial or a cremation? If it is to be a cremation, the first doctor will arrange for a second doctor who will need to examine the person’s body. This usually happens in the hospital, and before the body is allowed to leave their premises. If the person dies at home, the second doctor will come to the premises of the funeral director, unless you would like the body to stay at home for a short while (we can advise on how best to do this.)
Generally more time is required before a cremation can take place, due to the paperwork needed, and we would advise on allowing a minimum of five full working days between the death and the cremation service.
___5. Applications, certifications and approvals for cremation.
Unless you want to operate without a funeral director, Family Tree will handle all of the necessary paperwork for the cremation on your behalf.
Local Crematoria:
Cheltenham, towards Prestbury, on Bounder’s Lane.
Gloucester, off the Northern bypass, just after the Barton St/Painswick Rd. roundabout.
Westerleigh, west off the A46, before the M4 roundabout.
Kingsdown, east off the A419 approaching Swindon.
Haycombe, south of Bath.
___6. Application for Burial.
Permission for the body to be buried is granted through the ‘Green Form’ (Certificate for Burial or Cremation) issued by the Registrar following the visit by the family.
The family usually contact the minister, asking if they will conduct the funeral, and will suggest two or three alternative dates and times.
The Minister/Council Officer designates and marks the grave to be prepared.
The funeral director confirms and arranges all the details for the preparation, such as the size of the coffin, the required depth of the grave (single or double), the date and time of the funeral, and whether the family are likely to want to fill in the grave themselves after the committal.
The funeral director will also liase with the minister to establish and confirm the fine details of the arrangements.
If the family are not religious, Family Tree can recommend an appropriate and experienced celebrant who will work with them to create and conduct the kind of ceremony you want.
___7. Organ Donation/ Medical Research?
This will need to have been discussed with the doctor in advance of death, and preparations will already be in place, as all arrangements need to happen immediately – or very soon after - the person has died. (i.e. a cornea must be donated within 12 hours…..but every other organ is extremely urgent) If the person wished to donate his/her organs the next of kin must also have given their approval. The body can be released after the specific organs have been removed.
Your doctor will also advise about the possibility of donating the person’s body for medical research.
___8. Is repatriation required?
To return the person’s body back to their home country from the UK, or to bring a body home to the UK from abroad, the Coroner’s permission is required, usually at least 4 days in advance. There are very specific requirements for the closing of the coffin by Customs and Excise, and specialised regulations depending on the country to which the person is being sent. Family Tree can handle all of these arrangements for you, in conjunction with our worldwide agents.
___9. Wills and Probate:
When the person dies someone needs to deal with their ‘estate’ – their money, property, possessions, and other issues arising from the will. This involves collecting all the information and monies, paying any debts and distributing the estate to those entitled. Usually – but not always - a solicitor will be appointed to handle this.
If you are not planning to use a solicitor, obtain the required forms from your nearest Probate Office. You may have to attend an informal interview to confirm the details on the form and to discuss any queries.
The Probate Office (Registry) issues a document called “the grant representation”. There are two basic types of grant/deed:
___Probate – issued to one or more of the executors named in the will.
___Letters of Administration – issued when there is a will but no executor has been named (or one named is unable to deal with the estate), or when the person has not left a will, (or the will is considered invalid).
The need for a grant:
Organisations holding money in the person’s name need to know to whom the monies are to be paid. The distribution of the estate is the responsibility of the person named in the deed.
A grant is sometimes not needed if the person’s money can be released without the holder of the monies needing to see a grant – i.e. when the amount is small and there are no complications.
Probate Office:
Gloucester Probate Sub-Registry, 2nd Floor, Combined Court Building, Kimbrose Way,
Gloucester GL1 2DC. Tel: 01452 522585 General Helpline: 0845 302090
At some point, you will probably need to contact at least some of the following organisations:
Car:
The car insurance company (if you were insured under the deceased person’s name).
DVLA, to return their driving license, and change registration details.
Residential Affairs:
Landlord/Local Council/Home Insurance Company.
Utility and service providers.
Post Office, to re-direct mail. The Bereavement Trust, who will arrange to take the person’s name off all mailing lists to avoid future unsolicited mail.
Dentists/opticians/hospitals etc. to cancel appointments, and to amend their patient lists.
Finance:
Banks/Building Societies to close or amend account details.
Life Insurance companies to claim entitlements.
Social Security, to claim any pension or bereavement benefit to which you may be entitled.
Inland Revenue, Pension Plan Providers, Credit and Store Card companies.
Return National Insurance documents/State Benefit documents/Passport/Library books and tickets/and any season tickets/TV licenses and claim for a refund.
Helplines
This can be a rather shocking time for a family, and no two people are affected in the same way; so please contact Family Tree if you want to go over anything in more detail, and consider making use of these friendly, understanding and practical support organisations - or any other sources of support.
Cruse Bereavement Support: 0844 477 9400
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
The Bereavement Trust
www.bereavement-trust.org.uk
If children or young adults are involved, the Cruse young person’s helpline is 0808 808 1677 info@rd4u.org.uk
Children’s bereavement advice and help
www.childbereavement.org.uk
Winston’s Wish specialises in helping bereaved families with children. Tel: 08452 03 04 05 www.winstonswish.org.uk
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Testimonials
"We would never, ever have done it like this without you" S.R.
"It was a deeply emotional time, a time of healing through which you guided us in the most gentle and supportive way. We are most grateful" I.C.
"I would like to thank you so much for making M's funeral as right as it could be for all the family" D.C. Slad
"We couldn't imagine a funeral could be as uplifting, personal and deep as it was, without you it would never of happened like this" W.R. Bisley
"Once again a big thank you from me and from all in the family, esp. the old man! It really worked for him! This morning he said “I wonder what the stuffy people thought of it!” with a mischievous chuckle....giving it his approval....so we managed to bring the opposites together and all were honoured." L
"A rather belated note to say thank you for your help in arranging Mum’s funeral. You listened to all our requests, and responded sensitively and accurately; you helped us make decisions when we dithered, and were very patient. On the day, your organization was well planned and unobtrusive. Your choice of other members for your team was great. It was a great funeral. Thank you." C.G. Kings Stanley.
"I can’t thank you enough for your kind treatment of R. and your valuable contributions to the whole process. We all appreciated it very much. It has been a pleasure dealing with you, and I’m only sorry that R. could not have met you when she was still smiling." C. G. Fairford.
"It does not seem almost a month ago that we all gathered to say goodbye to J. Family and friends still agree that it was a strangely beautiful day, and beneficial to all of us in our various states of shock and grief. K., J’s friend, thanked us for ‘the proudest moment of his life’ – and it was clearly important to many others that J. had a ‘hands-on’ farewell.
Thank you for that." S.D. Frampton on Severn.
"I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your contribution to Mum’s ceremony. It was just what we wanted, and you managed to capture just the right atmosphere and mood. Thank you so much for helping to make it a very special day. We visit her every day, and it’s nice to have her so close. Many thanks again."
"We are writing to express our appreciation and thanks for the arrangements you made for the touching and elegant cremation service, and the beautiful service of remembrance and thanksgiving for our dear daughter R. The sympathy and understanding behind the services helped us greatly." J and V H. Fairford
Particular thanks to James Showers of Family Tree Funeral Company for the time he took to learn about Mary’s life, and for conducting a wonderfully personal secular service to say goodbye to her. J.S. Brownshill. (Family Notice in the Stroud News and Journal)
"We are getting on with the ‘future’ of course, but to have had such a sound time when K. died, with much credit and thanks to you, means that we continue to keep that as a warm and wholesome beginning to her future life, and to ours, without her. Our very best wishes go to you; may you have many more ‘successes’ in your work. (Sentiments not usually expected to go together in the funeral business!)." J.M. Nailsworth.
"I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you very much for the lovely service you did for my sister’s funeral, it was so right for her and everyone thought so. Thank you so much.
Best wishes." L.H.
"Many many thanks; you made this so much easier, and certainly more ‘us’." S.F. Longney
"We all felt you did us proud. In so many ways. We especially appreciated your approach to all our requests – sometimes rather unusual ones. No-one will ever forget our girls and S. carrying K into the teeth of the gale as they rounded the corner of the church – an extraordinary experience for which we owe you a great deal in terms of confidence and patience. Thank you too for the way you arranged for us to see K in that little room next to the chapel. We will never forget that. And your idea for lights up the path as we carried her up to the church the night before. And for the hand painted rose on the grave marker. Most of all, thank you for your quiet listening and encouragement throughout. I hope that Family Tree goes from strength to strength." The Rev. D. Leckhampton
"From the first few word we exchanged on the telephone, it was clear that Family Tree were the people to take care of everything. They dropped round a few minutes later, very quickly understood what I had in mind, and artfully made the necessary arrangements. Without their reassuring presence, sensitivity and professionalism, the celebration would not have been the magnificent occasion that it was.
W.R. Stroud, from his published tribute to B’s life “Then Shall You Truly Dance”
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