Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if a relative dies at home?
When a death which has been expected occurs at home or at a nursing home, the Doctor who has been treating the deceased should be contacted. The Doctor or a colleague will either attend to confirm that death has occurred, or will give permission for the deceased to be transferred to a Funeral Director's premises, if this is your wish.
You can then contact the Funeral Director of your choice, who will attend to transfer the deceased to their premises.
What should I do if a relative dies in hospital?
If a relative who has been a hospital inpatient dies, the doctors who have been treating the deceased will usually be able to issue the Medical Certificate. Ask the ward staff or Doctor what you need to do to collect this Certificate, or ring your local Funeral Director for advice and contact numbers.
Most hospitals will give family members the opportunity to sit with the deceased before transfer from the ward or private room. The deceased will then be taken to the mortuary, prior to collection by your chosen Funeral Director.
The Doctor says he won't issue the medical certificate. Why is this?
The Doctor can only issue the Certificate if he knows the cause of death, and has been treating the deceased for this illness in the last 14 days. If this is not the case, or if there are other circumstances involved (such as a recent operation, or a possible industrial disease), the Doctor will have to refer the death to the Coroner.
If the death has occurred at home, the Coroner will arrange for the deceased to be taken into his custody, in order that the death can be investigated.
What does a coroner do?
It is the coroner's responsibility to ascertain the cause of death. The vast majority of deaths that are reported to the coroner are discovered to be from natural causes - only a small proportion require further investigation. The coroner will conduct a post mortem examination of the deceased, which involves examination of the organs to ascertain the cause of the death. The coroner does not require permission to investigate a death within his/her jurisdiction, and cannot be prevented from doing so.
In certain circumstances, the coroner may investigate a death even when the person has been ill for some time. The coroner has to investigate deaths from diseases which may have been caused by the deceased's occupation, or deaths after recent operations, to ensure that public interest has been served.
Your local Funeral Director will be familiar with the coroner's procedure in your area, and will be able to advise you how to proceed.
Why do GP's charge for cremation forms?
A deceased person cannot be cremated until the cause of death has been ascertained and properly recorded. The BMA website sets out the procedure:
'Before cremation can take place two certificates need to be signed, one by the GP and one by another doctor. Cremation form B must be completed by the 'registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during their last illness'. Form C must be completed by a 'registered medical practitioner who is neither a partner nor a relative of the doctor who completed form B'.
A fee can be charged for the completion of both forms B and C as this does not form part of a doctor's NHS duties (1). Doctors normally charge these fees to the funeral director, who, generally passes on the cost to the family. Doctors are also entitled to charge a mileage allowance, where appropriate.
How do I decide which funeral service to choose?
Choosing a Funeral Director can be difficult, especially if you are confronted with having to make a quick decision. Many people ask friends or relatives to recommend a firm that they have dealt with, or have heard positive comments about.
If you do not have the opportunity to ask advice from others, find out about the firms in your area, perhaps from advertisements in your local press, parish magazines, or Yellow Pages. These will tell you if the firms are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors - this is your guarantee of a quality service. The advertisements may also give you further information, such as whether it is a small family business or part of a larger group.
I was not thinking when I rang the funeral service. Can I change my mind?
If you have already asked a funeral firm to transfer the deceased to their premises, you can still use a different firm to deal with the funeral arrangements. The company you contact to deal with the funeral will arrange for the transfer of the deceased to their premises. It will still be necessary for you to pay the other firm for the removal of the deceased.
Why do I have to register the death?
All deaths have to be registered, and the people closest to the deceased have a legal obligation to do this. Deaths in England and Wales or Northern Ireland should be registered within 5 days - if this is not going to be possible, you should inform the Registrar. In Scotland, deaths must be registered within 8 days.
Which registrar's office should I go to?
In England and Wales, the death has to be registered at the registrar's office in the area where the death occurred. This is the case even if the death occurred a distance from home.
However there is a facility available to attend your local registrar's office to register a death that occurred in another area. This is called 'Registration by Declaration', and involves the two Registrars transferring documents by fax and post in order to register the death. Depending on the circumstances, this can delay the date of the funeral - ask your Funeral Director for advice.
In Scotland, you can register the death either at the place of death, or where the deceased had their normal residence, as long as both are in Scotland.
What do I need to register the death?
In order to register the death, you will need to obtain a Medical Certificate from the Doctor who was treating the deceased during the last illness. When the Coroner is involved, this Certificate is replaced by one from the Coroner. The Coroner's Office will be able to advise you or your Funeral Director when you will be able to attend the Registrar's Office.
To register a death in England and Wales, the deceased's NHS Medical Card is the only other document required. However, this is not compulsory, so do not delay registering the death if you cannot find it - the Registrar will explain to you what to do if the Medical Card is subsequently found.
If you have the deceased's Birth or Marriage Certificates to hand you can take them along to the Registrar, but the documents will not be retained. All that is required is the information contained on them e.g. the deceased's place and date of birth, and maiden name if applicable.
In Scotland, more documents are required to register a death - contact your Funeral Director for information and advice.
What will the registrar give me?
The DSS Form - now called the SF200 Funeral Payments from the Social Fund should be taken or sent to your DSS Office with any pension or benefit books in the deceased's name, or in joint names. This is also used to assess whether a surviving partner is eligible for benefits such as Widows Benefit. You can download the form on the Department of Works and Pensions website. To find oput more information please vist the Funeral Payment.
Funeral Director's Form. This is green, and should be given to your Funeral Director to allow the funeral to take place. NB: If the Coroner has investigated the death, and cremation is required, this will be replaced with a form which the Coroner will send direct to the Funeral Director.
Death Certificates. These are copies of the Register Entry, and are the Certificates required by Banks, Insurance Companies etc. to attend to the deceased's affairs. These are currently £3.50 per copy.
Do I have to register the death before arranging the funeral?
No. Arranging the funeral involves your Funeral Director discussing with you the type of funeral required, and offering you advice and information as appropriate. This can be done as soon as you have made certain decisions about the funeral - e.g. whether it is to be a burial or cremation.
Then, once you have registered the death, you can arrange with your Funeral Director for the green form to be handed over or collected.
We have never been a religious family - do we have to have a vicar to take the ceremony?
No - there is no requirement to hold a religious funeral service, and there are a number of alternatives. Perhaps a relative or friend could take the service if they feel able to do so. Other Members of the congregation could speak or read verses or poems. The British Humanist Association has a network of officiants who will provide a very personal non-religious ceremony. Ask your Funeral Director for more information or to organise a Humanist ceremony.
What are green funerals and woodland burials?
'Green funerals' is a term often used to describe funerals which are designed to be simple and environmentally friendly. Some people consider the use of a cardboard coffin to be more environmentally friendly than one composed of wood bi-products.
Woodland burial sites are where trees or wild flowers are planted on graves instead of a headstone, eventually turning the site into woodland. There are many such sites available throughout the United Kingdom - your Funeral Director will be able to provide you with information should you require it.
Funerals can be expensive. How will I know if I can afford it?
Funeral Directors who are Members of the National Association of Funeral Directors abide by a Code of Practice which ensures that they treat their clients and the public fairly. Members are required to have price lists available showing the cost of the services they provide.
To ensure you obtain the best value possible, you should contact at least two Funeral Directors in your area for an estimate of the funeral costs, or obtain a price list from their office to make comparisons. Do not assume that all funeral firms charge the same prices.
If you have chosen a Funeral Director who is a Member of the National Association of Funeral Directors, you will receive a written estimate and confirmation of arrangements before the funeral takes place. This ensures that you are aware of the costs of the funeral you have arranged, and forms the basis of the contract between yourself and the funeral firm.
Can I get any assistance with funeral costs?
The DSS Social Fund awards financial assistance to individuals who meet a number of criteria. To qualify, you, and all other family Members who share your responsibility for the funeral, must be receiving at least one of several benefits, and have insufficient savings to pay for the funeral.
The DSS Funeral Payment will provide a limited amount, which may cover a very basic funeral, or provide a contribution towards a more traditional funeral. Your Funeral Director will be able to advise you about the qualifying criteria and the likely contribution available.
I've heard anyone can become a funeral director is this true?
It is true that there are no qualifications required to become a Funeral Director. However, the industry has a qualification, the National Association of Funeral Directors' Diploma in Funeral Directing, which is awarded to candidates who achieve a high level of professional competence and experience.
Funeral Directors and staff who have the letters 'Dip. F.D.' after their name have been awarded the Diploma in Funeral Directing.
As a Non-Christian how will I know a funeral director understands our requirements?
Today we live in an ethnically diverse society, and this diversity needs to be celebrated in our funeral ceremonies as well as our everyday lives. However, facilities for particular religious communities do vary from region to region- for example, in some areas cemeteries have dedicated sections for Muslim burials, and the local Muslim community is often closely involved with the operation of the Cemetery.
It is the role of our Members to discuss funeral requirements with their clients, and to have knowledge of the different alternatives available to a family, in order to offer sound advice. A professional Funeral Director will have the ability to do this regardless of the religion of the deceased or the immediate family.
However, the Funeral Director will not make assumptions about the family's wishes based solely upon its religious beliefs. Funerals are individual events, and there are many other variables to be taken into account. Even if you tell your Funeral Director you require a 'Traditional Hindu funeral', he or she will still wish to discuss your exact requirements with you, to ensure that no personal wishes have been overlooked.
What if something goes wrong?
There are occasions when a client may feel dissatisfied with aspects of the services provided as part of the funeral. The National Association of Funeral Directors Code of Practice , with which all NAFD Funeral Directors are obliged to comply, provides a simple procedure to resolve problems between Funeral Directors and their clients. Copies of the Code of Practice are readily available from all NAFD Members.
