Funeral advice - whatever the circumstances.
Whether you have recently lost someone close or are planning for someone who is in hospital or ill at home, there will be a lot for you to think about and it can prove to be a very difficult and confusing time.
We hope to take some of the worry away from you by providing you with accurate and comprehensive information about what the next steps are.
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We want to make the process of planning a funeral as simple as possible for you, taking away unnecessary, additional stress and listening to what you want with empathy, care and attention.
Every step of planning a funeral is important, from the first questions you need to ask, through to the funeral service itself.
We will explain all this for you here and hope to answer any questions that you might have. If you do not find all the information you need, we are on hand to resolve any enquiries no matter how big or small you may think they are, whenever you need.
The next steps
It is perfectly normal to be unsure of what to do when someone dies. This guide will take you through the key steps of what to after a death.
People can die at any time and on any day and in any place. It is important for you to feel confident and comfortable with knowledge of what you need to do when this happens. Although this can be a very daunting time for you, knowing what to do and when, can alleviate some of your stress. There are different steps to take dependent on where the person has died.
The four main steps to follow are:
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- Obtain a medical cause of death certificate from the GP, or medical staff who attended before death occured.
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- Have the person taken into the care of your funeral director
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- Register the death
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- Arrange the funeral
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What happens if the death was not expected?
If the person died suddenly, whether it was at home or in another place, it will be reported to the coroner. If the person had not seen a doctor in the 14 days prior to death it would need to be reported, so that the cause of death can be established.
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A postmortem may be needed for this purpose and this can take some time.
It is important that you still contact us, as we are used to liaising with the coroner, and can check on the progress of their investigation on your behalf.
Although the funeral date cannot be determined until the death certificate has been issued, we still be able to make all the other necessary arrangements with you during that time, ensuring that everything is prepared when the person who has died is released from the coroner's office.
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When the coroner has confirmed the cause of death, they will provide permission for the burial or cremation to take place.
You will receive a 'certificate for a burial or cremation' (this is a green form) to give to your funeral director.
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Someone dying in hospital.
If the person died in hospital, you, or the next of kin or family will be informed straightaway. The deceased will remain in the hospital mortuary until you have instructed us as your chosen funeral director.
If your loved one is being collected by a funeral director, they will liaise with the hospital directly to ensure they are transported safely to the Chapel of Rest at the funeral home. It may be necessary for you to sign a form to authorise your funeral director to take your loved one into their care from the hospital.
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Taking the person into our care.
Once you are ready, you can call us, and we aim to bring the person who has died into our care within two hours from the initial call. This does not have to be immediate; you and your family may need some time.
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Registering the death.
You will need to register the death within five days of the person dying.
This needs to be done at the local register office and you will need to make an appointment with them in order to attend to register.
Take the certificate that has the cause of death with you to the appointment, along with any other documentation that you have for the person that has died, such as their birth certificate or medical card.
Once the death has been registered, you will receive a death certificate and certificate for burial or cremation - this is a green form. You will need to keep hold of this form and pass it on to us, as the funeral directors, for us to proceed with the funeral. You may want to get a few copies of the certificate in case they are needed as proof when notifying people of a death.
Need Help?
If you need any further help understanding what happens after someone passes away, we have created these helpful, easy-to-understand flowcharts, explaining the process of both expected deaths and unexpected deaths.
Arranging the funeral?
Once you feel ready, you should begin making funeral arrangements with your chosen funeral director. You will need to consider what type of funeral you want to plan, including the choice of coffin, whether it is a burial or cremation, location of the ceremony, the travel arrangements, and other details such as flowers and readings. We can guide you through the entire process. You can find further information about this by contacting us.
We are here to help you anytime of the day or night.
T: 07852 211851
T: 020 8297 4172
E :info@adrianmoorefunerals.co.uk
We have a variety of packages to suit each and every situation and can plan these before if required.
