At the Registrars and Your Guide to Arranging a Funeral

At the Registrars

The Registrars you will need to register the death at will be the one in the area where the person died. It may be necessary to make an appointment, so always check before you visit. The Funeral Director or Bereavement Office at the hospital, will help you and give you this information.

You will need to take the "white" cause of death certificate and the identification documents mentioned on the previous page, to the Registrars. The Registrar will issue you with a "green" certificate (Disposal Certificate for Burial or Cremation), which must be given to the Funeral Director, with the Removal Order from the hospital, if applicable. The Registrar will also issue you with a "white" certificate for DWP purposes, to inform the appropriate benefit offices of the persons death.  The Registrar will issue you with one free Death Certificate (Entry of Death) so it is wise to take some money with you for further originals for insurance, bank, and all legal purposes. Copies are not acceptable. 

Timing

Bear in mind that you can't finalise the date for the funeral until after the death has been registered. If the death has to be reported to the coroner, the date when the funeral can be held will be affected.

Taking the deceased's wishes into account

Remember to check the deceased's will or other written instructions for special wishes about their funeral or what should happen to their body. (However, the executor doesn't have to follow the instructions about the funeral left in the will).

If there are no clear wishes it's generally up to the executor/administrator or nearest relative to decide whether the body is to be cremated or buried.

Funeral options

The only legal requirement in the UK regarding funerals is that the death is certified and registered and the body properly taken care of, by either burial or cremation.

Funerals outside England and Wales

You'll need permission from a coroner in the local district before a body can be moved out of England and Wales, including abroad. The rules are complicated but the coroner's office will be able to provide information. Also, there are specialist funeral directors who should be able to help in these circumstances (read more on funeral directors in the section below). The coroner will need at least four working days before the body is to be moved and will issue a removal notice (form 104), part of wh ich is sent to the Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages.

Using a funeral director

Many people choose to use a professional funeral director. Funeral directors can help at what is generally a stressful time, and should see that the deceased is dealt with in a dignified way.

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