Family Tree

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