Frequently Asked Questions
- How to register a death
- What does a Funeral Director do
- What is a Post Mortem
- Cremation Regulations
- Child Death Overview Processes
How to Register a Death
The death has to be registered in the district where it happened. For information on where and how to register a death, visit the General Register Office of the area where the death occurred:
Scotland: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/regscot/registering-a-death.html
England and Wales: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/deaths/registeringadeath/index.asp
Northern Ireland: http://www.groni.gov.uk/index.htm
For information about registering an overseas death visit:
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/deaths/registeringanoverseasdeath/
What does a Funeral Director do
Please note that the services listed here might not necessarily be provided automatically when you contact your Funeral director.
Funeral Directors can provide information on how to arrange a pre-paid funeral plan.
They offer a variety of coffins and caskets to suit a range of budgets and differences in personal choice.
Funeral Directors can provide advice and transport to assist with the registration of the death. However, please note that the Funeral Director cannot register a death; this must be done by a family member. Please see - "How to register a death", for more information.
They transfer the deceased from the place of death, or from where they may have been taken after death, to their premises, or they can provide you with practical assistance to allow your child to remain at home prior to the funeral, should you prefer this.
Funeral Directors arrange all the necessary paperwork to allow burial or cremation to take place. They arrange the date and time for the funeral, following your instructions. They will contact the church, cemetery or crematorium, and the person who will conduct the service to arrange a date and time that is mutually convenient. They can also liaise with the officiant to provide order of service sheets at the funeral service. If you so wish, they can arrange for special musical requests, such as a soloist, piper, or choir at the funeral service. They would also order floral tributes for the funeral on your, or others, behalf.
They provide viewing facilities prior to the funeral, according to your request.
They can place death notices in local or national newspapers at your request.
They provide the transport and staff needed to conduct the funeral.
Funeral Directors can accept and care for floral tributes delivered to their premises prior to the funeral, and accept donations, sent instead of flowers, on your behalf, providing you with a list of those who have donated.
They can make arrangements for transfer of either the deceased or the cremated remains to another areas, or overseas, for a subsequent funeral or disposal, according to the family’s wishes.
They can supply obituary cards or “thank you” cards, for use by the family, and place thanks and acknowledgement notices or obituary notices in local newspapers following the funeral.
They can also arrange for catering at a venue of your choice, after the funeral.
Finding a Funeral Director
You can find your local funeral directors by looking in the Yellow Pages, your local churches, local press, or try:
National Association of Funeral directors
Tel: 0845 230 1343
Fax: 0121 711 1351
e-mail: info@nafd.org.uk
Website: http://www.saif.org.uk/website/index.html
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Help Paying for a Funeral
Some suggestions for you to try:
- Speak to your local Social Services.
- Some funeral directors may help. Enquiries can be made at more than one, in order to compare cost.
- When a Family Liaison Officer is involved, they may agree to make enquiries.
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What is a Post-Mortem
A post mortem examination is another stage in investigating a person’s illness. It is a detailed physical examination after they have died. Some post mortem examinations are legally required, others are not.
For more information if you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland visit: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/RightsAndResponsibilities/Death/WhatToDoAfterADeath/DG_066713
For more information if you live in Scotland visit: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/12094440/4
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Cremation Regulations
New regulations came into being in November 2008 full details are on the website below.
Families now have a right to inspect the cremation forms before the service. In many cases the doctor completing form 4 will do so with the family present. The doctor filling in this form will be providing contact details of those who cared for the person during their final illness, professionals and family, as the second doctor completing form 5 will be confirming the information given by talking to those named.
Separate forms and guidance are available regarding stillborn children. For more information visit: http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/cremation.htm
Child Death Overview Processes
Child Death Overview Panels
Government legislation now requires every local Children’s Services Authority to review the circumstances of all child deaths (up to the age of 18 years). This is because the government believes that it may help reduce overall child deaths by enabling a fuller understanding about why children die.
Information about each and every child and the circumstances of their death is collected and summarised from records held by ambulance services, hospitals, community health services, schools, police, children’s services and other agencies whose staff knew the child.
A Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) of doctors, other health specialists and child care professionals consider the information to try to ascertain what caused the child’s death, what, if any, support and treatment was offered to the child and their family up until the death, and what support was offered to the family after the child died.
The CDOP decides whether recommendations and actions are needed to help prevent child deaths in the future. These are shared, with your child’s details anonymised, with local health trusts, public health departments, children’s services and the police, as well as specialist agencies such as the fire service or traffic authorities in order to influence and improve services and life chances for children and families.
Further information on these processes are available from the website below:
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/safeguarding/childdeathreview/
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