Making Arrangements
Making arrangements for a loved one’s funeral service can be a stressful time, whether the passing was anticipated or not. During times of grief, it is hard to know what to do, where to turn and even where to start.
The circumstances surrounding a person’s death may influence how arrangements can be affected.
Making Arrangements When Someone Dies at Home
If your loved one passes away at home, the first contact should be with the deceased’s own Doctor, who, if satisfied with the cause of death, will issue the Medical Certificate of Death (the Death Certificate). In some cases you may be asked to collect the Certificate from the local GP Surgery, or indeed, we can do this on your behalf. Should your loved one pass away in a Care Home, Hospital or Hospice, the professional staff there, will liaise with the Doctors.
After informing the Doctor, you can contact us 24 hours a day and we will arrange a suitable time, day or night, to meet with you to discuss your requirements. We will take you through the choices available to you and all the options to consider. We will then convey the deceased into our care.
If the deceased had a funeral pre-payment plan in place, then most choices will already be made – easing the burden on the family. A meeting will still need to take place to confirm details of the funeral as per the deceased wishes.
When a Death Occurs in Hospitals or Care Homes
Sudden or Unexpected Death
A death certificate is required before a funeral director can transport the deceased to their premises. Only a medical professional can issue the certificate, which needs to provide a cause of death, the date and the time of death.
When the cause of death is unable to be determined; the death occurred under suspicious circumstances, or suddenly and unexpectedly, the matter is referred to the authorities. A coroner will arrange for the deceased to be transported to the public mortuary while an investigation is conducted and a determination made as to whether a post-mortem is required before a death certificate can be issued.
Should you be awaiting information from the Fiscal following an unexplained, or sudden death, preliminary funeral arrangements may be made, but the service will not be able to proceed until a death certificate is issued.
When Someone Dies Overseas
When a death occurs overseas, the British Consulate of the country where the death occurred should notify the UK police who then notify the next of kin. In some cases, when the person is on holiday through a tour operator, a company representative may make the notification. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office_ – should be contacted for advice and assistance as the death will need registered in the country where the death occurred and a death certificate issued before the repatriation process begins.
The cost of repatriation may be covered by travel insurance. The tour operator may be able to assist with policy details.
The information required for the repatriation process are:
• A death certificate issued from the country where the death happened. If this is in a foreign language, it will need professionally translated to be accepted by the Registrar.
• Permission to deport the deceased back to the UK
• A ‘Certificate of Embalming’
With the above documents, you can then register the death at the Registry Office closest to the funeral home you plan to make arrangements with for either a burial or cremation, after which you will be provided with the required documentation to provide to a funeral director to begin making arrangements for your loved one’s service.