Help with funeral legalities
Contact Willingham Funeral Service for professional advice and support.
What you need to know
If death occurs at home
You need to contact your doctor who will come to your home to certify the death and will issue a notification of death. This has to be taken to the registrars. Once the doctor has attended, most families prefer for their loved one to be conveyed to the chapel of rest. We can arrange this at any time that you need.
You need to contact your doctor who will come to your home to certify the death and will issue a notification of death. This has to be taken to the registrars. Once the doctor has attended, most families prefer for their loved one to be conveyed to the chapel of rest. We can arrange this at any time that you need.
If death occurs at a nursing or residential home
All the above procedures may have taken place with your permission, undertaken by the senior in charge, warden or matron. They will be able to advise you of the whereabouts of the notification of death.
All the above procedures may have taken place with your permission, undertaken by the senior in charge, warden or matron. They will be able to advise you of the whereabouts of the notification of death.
If death occurs in the hospital
You may apply to the hospital for the medical certificate of death.
You may apply to the hospital for the medical certificate of death.
How to register a death
Who Can Register
1. A close relative of the deceased
2. A relative in attendance during the last illness
3. A relative living in the district where the death occurred
4. A person present at death
5. The person causing the disposal
1. A close relative of the deceased
2. A relative in attendance during the last illness
3. A relative living in the district where the death occurred
4. A person present at death
5. The person causing the disposal
Documents Required
1. A medical certificate of death
2. Medical card if available
3. Birth certificate and information regarding the date of birth
You need to make an appointment at the registrar by calling on 0345 045 1363
1. A medical certificate of death
2. Medical card if available
3. Birth certificate and information regarding the date of birth
You need to make an appointment at the registrar by calling on 0345 045 1363
Information for the local registrar
Information Required To Register
1. Date and place of death
2. Full name of the deceased
3. Date and place of birth
4. Occupation and home address
5. Full name and occupation of surviving spouse, if married
1. Date and place of death
2. Full name of the deceased
3. Date and place of birth
4. Occupation and home address
5. Full name and occupation of surviving spouse, if married
Certificates
1. Disposal certificate for the funeral director
2. Social security certificate to be handed in at the D.S.S offices with any pension books
3. Copies of the entry of death for bank, insurance, and solicitors
The registrar issues a green certificate which should be given to us as soon as possible.
1. Disposal certificate for the funeral director
2. Social security certificate to be handed in at the D.S.S offices with any pension books
3. Copies of the entry of death for bank, insurance, and solicitors
The registrar issues a green certificate which should be given to us as soon as possible.
The coroner
If the death has been reported to the coroner, he will send the medical certificate of death to the registrar's office in the district where the death occurred.
How to obtain a probate
When someone dies, an appointed person has to deal with their estate by collecting all the money, paying any debts and distributing the estate to the entitled persons.
The probate registry issues Grant of Representation. The three types of grant are:
1. Probate issues to one or more of the executors named in the will
2. Letters of administration (with will) issues when there is a will, but no executor named or unable to deal with the estate
3. Letters of administration issued when the deceased has not made a will or it is not valid
This grant is necessary because organisations holding money in the deceased's name need to know to whom the money is to be paid to. The distribution of the estate is the responsibility of the person named on the deed.
A grant may sometimes not be needed if the deceased's money is released without the holder seeing a grant, when the amount held is small and there are no complications.
The probate registry issues Grant of Representation. The three types of grant are:
1. Probate issues to one or more of the executors named in the will
2. Letters of administration (with will) issues when there is a will, but no executor named or unable to deal with the estate
3. Letters of administration issued when the deceased has not made a will or it is not valid
This grant is necessary because organisations holding money in the deceased's name need to know to whom the money is to be paid to. The distribution of the estate is the responsibility of the person named on the deed.
A grant may sometimes not be needed if the deceased's money is released without the holder seeing a grant, when the amount held is small and there are no complications.
Consult a solicitor
A solicitor can take care of:
- Control of wills
- Issues of intestacy
- Outstanding debts
- Grants
- Letters of administration
A solicitor can save you a great deal of unwanted hassle and save you money. If a will was made, it is important that the contents be ascertained as soon as possible after death. It may contain instructions regarding funeral arrangements too.
People to tell
- Any hospital the person was attending
- The family doctor to cancel any home nursing
- The inland revenue
- The social security office if money was being paid directly into the bank or building society account
- Any employer and trade union
- Professional associations including clubs or organisations
- A child or young person's teacher, employer or college if a parent, brother, sister, grandparent or close friend has died
- The car insurance company if applicable
- The local offices of the gas, electricity and telephone suppliers
- The local council housing department or landlord if the person who has died was living in rented accommodation
- The local council housing benefit/council tax benefit section if the person who has died was getting housing benefit or council tax benefit
- The post office
You also need to inform the local social services department of the council if the person received meals on wheels, home help or day centre care, or had an appliance or piece of equipment issued by the department.
Things to send back
You need to return the following:
- The deceased's passport to the passport office
- The deceased's driving licence to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- The registration documents of a car for the change of ownership to be recorded
- Any season tickets to claim any refunds due
- Library books and tickets
- National insurance papers
- NHS equipment such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and artificial limbs
These have to be accompanied with a note of explanation and the date of death with each of the documents. Order books, payable orders, or giro cheques to the society security office or other office which issued payment. This applies to a child benefit book which includes payment for a child who has died. Orders should not be cashed after the death of the person. It may be useful to keep a record of pension book numbers or other society security numbers.
For professional advice on funeral legalities, contact Willingham Funeral Service on
01954 261 999
01954 261 999