1 Lupin Works, Worcester Road, Kidderminster, DY10 1JR
01562 541062
Help and Guidance
The days following bereavement can be difficult and confusing. We have put together a simple guide to help you understand the next steps and what legal requirements you will need to do
What To Do When Someone Dies?
If someone passes away in Hospital
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The bereavement office will arrange for the Medical Examiner to contact you to discuss the cause of death. The Medical Examiner will email the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the registrars within the following days. Once the registrar is in receipt of this certificate they will contact you to make an appointment to register the death. The death must be registered within the jurisdiction of where the death occurred.
In the meantime, you can contact one of our dedicated funeral directors at Gaunts of Kidderminster.
If someone passes away at Home
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You will need to contact their GP surgery or call 111 for the out of hours doctors. The attending doctor will verify the death. Once the death has been verified, you can contact us as your chosen funeral directors. The GP will contact the Medical Examiner who will contact you to discuss the cause of death. They will email the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the registrars within the following days. Once the registrar is in receipt of this certificate they will contact you to make an appointment to register the death. The death must be registered within the jurisdiction of where the death occurred.
If someone passes away at a Nursing/Care Home
The Nursing Staff will inform a doctor who will attend the nursing home to verify the death. Either you or a staff member will then contact us as your nominated Funeral Directors. You will need to contact the GP Surgery who will contact the Medical Examiner who will contact you to discuss the cause of death. They will then email the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the registry office in the following days. Once the registrar is in receipt of this certificate they will contact you to make an appointment to register the death. The death must be registered within the jurisdiction of where the death occurred.
Registering A Death
Registration of a Death
You will need to provide:
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The Death Certificate (this will be emailed to the registry office by doctor)
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Full name
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Date and place of birth
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Occupation (or former occupation if retired)
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If the deceased is a married woman, you will also need:
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Maiden name
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Husband’s full name and occupation
You will be issued with:
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A white certificate (for the Department of Social Security)
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A green certificate - this can be emailed to Gaunts of Kidderminster
LOCAL REGISTRY OFFICES
Redditch Registration Office
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29 Easemore Road
Redditch
Worcestershire
B98 8ER
Phone: 01905768181
Who Can Register A Death?
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• A close relative of the deceased
• A relative in attendance during the last illness
• A relative in the district where the death occurred
• A person who was present at the time of death
• The person arranging the funeral
Information Required By Registrar
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• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death - this will be sent to the registrar directly by the Medical Examiner
• Full name of deceased including any aliases and maiden names
• The deceased’s date and place of birth
• Birth certificate, if possible
• The usual residence of the deceased
• Their occupation, and their husband’s occupation (if applicable)
• The date and place of death
Certificates Issued By The Registrar
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The Registrars Certificate for Cremation or Burial (a green certificate that we need at the funeral home - this can be emailed directly from the registry office)
The Death Certificate – This is a copy of the entry into the register. We advise you obtain sufficient copies of the death certificate for insurance companies, banks etc. There is a small fee to be paid for additional copies.
H.M Coroner
If the deceased hasn't seen their usual doctor for over 14 days, the death may be reported to the coroner. A death may also be referred to the coroner if there are any suspicious circumstances. There are a number of different options The Coroner may take and they will liaise with and support you throughout their investigation. Depending on their action the procedure of Registration and Documentation is somewhat different. The GP Doctor will not need to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, instead the Coroner will inform you where and when to register the death and they will send any information to the registrars in advance. You can still contact us whilst any investigation is taking place, we can help advise and assist you and go through any questions you may have or Funeral Arrangements you wish to make.
