While you do not need to choose a funeral director immediately, often a funeral director can guide you through what you need to do, offering reassurance from the beginning.

It is worthwhile speaking to more than one funeral director before choosing the one you feel will deliver what is right for you.

The first thing you need to do is to obtain a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This forms the official record you will need to register their death with the nearest Registry Office. The hospital, hospice, care home or doctor in attendance will provide you with this form.

Usually it would be a family member, next of kin or Executor of the deceased who will register the death but it may be the professional manager (if the death occurred in a professional setting such as a care home) who can send it direct to the Registry Office for you. In order to register the death, you will also need to know the individuals full name, address, date of birth and date and place of death.

You will you will need to make an appointment with the local registry office to register a death. We can provide you with details of local registry offices.

Generally, the death needs to be registered within five days. However, in some cases this is not possibly and the registrar may grant an extension.

You will receive a Certified copy of the Death Certificate. You may wish to purchase additional copies for legal processes such as insurance claims and closing bank accounts, a small charge will apply or copies.

The registrar will then issue The Green Form to either the appointed funeral director or to the crematorium. This is a certificate for burial or cremation so that you can proceed with a funeral for the deceased.

If you have not already done so, it is recommended to now choose a funeral director and start considering your funeral choices.

The registry office will provide information on Tell us Once service along with a unique reference number. This helps notify the necessary government that someone has passed away.

If you choose to use the Tell us Once service, in addition to the above you will need: National Insurance, driving licence and passport numbers of the deceased. You will also need details of the next of kin, the estates’ Executor and details of any benefits and pensions.

Once in receipt of the above the Tell us Once service will notify the relevant government bodies to cancel benefits, taxation and any other entitlements.

You can set up Tell Us Once by calling them on 0800 0857308.

When someone passes away, it is the responsibility of the person planning the funeral to pay for it, this can be unexpected and costly. Even if the deceased has made provision in their estate for funeral arrangements it can take time for the money to be released.

It is worthwhile checking if you are entitled to any bereavement benefits to help cover the funeral costs. There are a number of funds and support available for funeral costs and your local authority may be able to assist.

Further information can be found at www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

For Funeral Costs vary but typically consist of:

Funeral Directors fees – Our time and support with the funeral. This will typically include, collecting the person who has passed away, caring for the deceased, supporting and advising the person responsible for planning the funeral and friends and family thereof, making necessary arrangements for the service and directing the funeral on the day.

Third Party Costs – These are paid to others involved in the funeral process such as Doctors fees, Celebrant/Minister fees, burial or cremation fees. These are unavoidable fees.

Discretionary Costs – These are costs associated with your personal choices, such as coffin type, vehicles, flowers, service. We would typically arrange these on your behalf during the funeral planning process.