'WHAT IS OUR LIFE?'
by Sir Walter Raleigh
What is our life? A play of passion,
Our mirth the music of division,
Our mother’s wombs the tiring-houses be,
Where we are dressed for this short comedy.
Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is,
That sits and marks still who doth act amiss,
Our graves that hide us from the searching
sun,
Are like drawn curtains when the play is
done,
Thus march we, playing, to our latest rest,
Only we die in earnest, that’s no jest.
You don't need to wait
to contact us
Registering the death and arranging the funeral are connected, but you do not have to complete every piece of administration before speaking to us.
While the Medical Examiner and Registration Service complete their part, we can begin looking after you.
We can explain what happens next and start talking about the funeral while the medical and registration processes continue.
If you don't know whether you are waiting for the Medical Examiner, the Registrar or the Coroner, tell us what has happened.
We can help you work out where you are in the process.
Gentle Endings Funeral 0800 77 202 44
REGISTERING THE DEATH - WHAT TO DO
One of the first formal things that needs to happen after someone dies is registering their death.
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For many people, this is the first time they have ever had to do it.
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It can sound daunting, but the appointment itself is usually quite straightforward. You will be guided through it by the Registrar and you do not need to understand the whole process before you begin.
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There are also some things that need to happen before you can register the death, so you do not necessarily need to make an appointment immediately.
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Here is what to expect.
Before you register the death
One of the first formal things that needs to happen after someone dies is registering their death. For many people, this is the first time they have ever had to do it. It can sound daunting, but the appointment itself is usually quite straightforward. You will be guided through it by the Registrar and you do not need to understand the whole process before you begin. There are also some things that need to happen before you can register the death, so you do not necessarily need to make an appointment immediately. Here is what to expect. Before you register the death Following most deaths in England and Wales, the doctor who proposes the cause of death will send the necessary information to the Medical Examiner's Office. A Medical Examiner is a senior doctor who was not involved in caring for the person who has died. They independently review the proposed cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the person's care. The Medical Examiner's Office may contact you to: - explain the proposed cause of death; - give you an opportunity to ask questions; - listen to any concerns you may have about the person's care; - tell you when the necessary paperwork has been sent to the Registration Service. You do not usually need to collect the medical certificate yourself. Wait until you are told that you can register You should normally wait until the Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed that the necessary paperwork has been sent before booking your appointment with the Registrar. Once this has happened, the death should normally be registered within five days. If the Coroner is involved, the process is different and the usual five-day timescale may not apply.
Who can register a death?
Usually a relative or partner will register the death. However, depending upon the circumstances, other people may also be able to register it, including: - someone who was present when the person died; - a personal representative of the person who died; - someone arranging the funeral; - an administrator from the hospital where the person died; - another person legally entitled to act as the informant. If you are unsure whether you can register the death, the Registration Service can advise you.
What will the Registrar ask me?
The Registrar will ask you for information about the person who has died. It can be surprisingly difficult to remember quite ordinary information when you have just experienced a bereavement, so it can help to gather these details beforehand. You may be asked for: - their full name at the time of death; - any previous names they were known by; - their date and place of birth; - their last address; - their occupation; - their marital or civil - partnership status; - the name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner, including a spouse or civil partner who has already died; - and certain information relating to pensions or public funds. Don't worry if you don't know every detail immediately. The Registrar will guide you.
What should I take with me?
You generally do not need to arrive carrying a large collection of official documents. However, having some documents available can make it easier to check names, dates and spellings. If you have them, you may find it useful to have things such as: - passport; - birth certificate; - driving licence; - marriage or civil partnership certificate; - deed poll or evidence of a previous name; - proof of address; - and details of any spouse or civil partner. Don't worry if you cannot find everything. The important thing is that the information entered into the register is accurate. Take a moment to check everything carefully At the end of the appointment, you will be asked to check the information recorded by the Registrar. Take your time. Check names. Check spellings. Check dates. Check places. It is much easier to correct something before the registration is completed than afterwards. There is no need to feel hurried.
The Registrar will take you through the information required to formally register the person's death. The registration itself is free. You can purchase certified copies of the death certificate, which you may need when dealing with the person's financial and legal affairs. Once the registration has been completed, the necessary authority for burial or cremation - traditionally known as the green form - can be issued. In many areas this is now sent electronically directly to the funeral director rather than being handed to the family to deliver. If Gentle Endings is arranging the funeral, we can tell you what we need and liaise with the relevant organisations as the arrangements progress.
​How many death certificates should I buy?
This is something families often ask. There is no single correct number. A death certificate may be required when dealing with organisations such as: - banks and building societies; - pension providers; - insurance companies; - investment providers; - mortgage providers; - solicitors; - property matters; - probate and estate administration; - and organisations holding significant assets. However, many organisations now accept certified digital information, return certificates quickly, or obtain confirmation through other systems. And Tell Us Once can deal with many government departments without you having to contact each one separately. For a relatively straightforward estate, you may therefore need fewer certificates than you imagine. If the person's affairs are complex - perhaps involving several banks, investments, property or overseas assets - additional copies can be useful. You can usually order further copies later if you discover you need them.
THE 'Tell Us Once' SERVICE
When you register the death, the Registrar will explain the government's Tell Us Once service. This is extremely useful. Instead of separately contacting numerous government departments, Tell Us Once allows you to notify many of them through one service. Depending upon the person's circumstances, this can include organisations such as: - HM Revenue & Customs; - Department for Work and Pensions; - Passport Office; - DVLA; - the local council; - and certain public-sector - pension schemes. The Registrar may complete the service with you or give you a unique reference number so that you can complete it yourself afterwards. If you are given a reference number, it normally needs to be used within 28 days.
Be gentle with yourself.
Registering a death can feel daunting and deeply painful, as it brings another reminder that the person you love has died.
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If you can, consider asking someone you trust to go with you for support.
Try to leave yourself some quiet time afterwards too, allowing space to rest and process the experience in whatever way feels right for you
​Find your Registration Service
If the person died in Kent, you can register their death at one of Kent's available death-registration locations. Only book your appointment once the Medical Examiner has told you that the necessary paperwork has been sent to the Registration Service. Telephone: 03000 41 51 51 Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm Appointments can also be booked online through Kent County Council. Available locations include Ashford, Canterbury, Cliftonville and other registration locations across Kent. The death does not necessarily have to be registered at the office closest to where the person died - if the death occurred in Kent, you can look for an available appointment elsewhere within the Kent Registration Service.
​Medway Registration Service
If the person died within Medway, the death is registered through Medway Register Office rather than Kent Registration Service. Once Medway Register Office has received the necessary documents from the Medical Examiner or Coroner, they will contact you to arrange the registration. Medway Register Office Northgate Rochester Kent ME1 1LS Telephone: 01634 338899 Email: register.office@medway.gov.uk
East Sussex Registration Service
If the person died in East Sussex, you can book their death-registration appointment through East Sussex Registration Service once you have been told that the necessary medical paperwork is ready. Telephone: 0345 60 80 198 Register Offices are normally open Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Appointments can also be booked online. If an urgent registration is needed outside normal office hours for religious or cultural reasons, East Sussex operates an out-of-hours service. Out-of-hours urgent registration: 01273 337040 This number should only be used when the matter cannot wait until the Registration Service next opens.
Surrey Registration Service
If the person died in Surrey, their death should be registered through Surrey Registration Service. The Medical Examiner's Office will tell you when you can make the appointment. Death-registration appointments are available at Surrey Register Offices including: - Camberley; - Epsom; - Guildford; - Leatherhead; - Reigate; - Staines; - Weybridge. Surrey County Council Contact Centre: 0300 200 1002 Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm Appointments can normally be booked online. If the Coroner is involved, wait until the Coroner's Office tells you that you can make the registration appointment.
West Sussex Registration Service
If the person died in West Sussex, you can register the death at one of West Sussex's Registration Offices once the Medical Examiner has confirmed that the necessary paperwork has been sent. Telephone: 01243 642122 Appointments can also be booked online. West Sussex has Registration Offices across the county, including Crawley, Horsham, Worthing, Chichester, Haywards Heath and other locations. You can choose an available West Sussex Registration Office when booking your appointment.
Brighton & Hove Registration Service
If the person died within Brighton & Hove, contact Brighton & Hove Register Office. Brighton & Hove Register Office Town Hall Bartholomews Brighton BN1 1JA Telephone: 01273 292016 Email: register.office@brighton-hove.gov.uk You can also book a death-registration appointment online.
Registering a death in London
If the person died in London, the Registration Service you need will depend upon the London borough in which they died. For example, this may be Bromley, Bexley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth or another London borough. The hospital or Medical Examiner's Office should tell you which Registration Service will receive the paperwork. If you are unsure, you can use the government's Register Office finder and enter the postcode of the place where the person died. If Gentle Endings is supporting you and you are unsure where the death needs to be registered, please ask us. We can help you find the correct Registration Service.