When someone dies it can be difficult to know where to start, especially at what can be an emotional time. We also know that the first time you call a funeral director, it may be the first time you have had to say out loud that your loved one has died.
At Rosedale, our 24/7 phoneline means that you can be sure of receiving a compassionate and professional service, whether it is 2pm or 2am. We will make available all the time you need to guide you through the next steps and answer any questions you might have.
What to do if someone dies at home
The first thing that you will need to do is ask for a medically trained professional, such as a doctor or nurse, to visit your loved one so that they can ‘verify’ the death. Once this has been completed, we will be able to bring your loved one into our care at Rosedale.
No matter the time of day or night, your call will be answered by a member of the Rosedale team. We will ask some questions about the person who has died, whether you would like more time with them, information about access to the property as well as answering any questions you might have yourself.
When you are ready for us to come, we will give you an approximate time to expect us. When we arrive, we will introduce ourselves and make sure that you are settled with the next steps. If you would like to help us look after your loved one at this stage you can, but if not, then you can be assured that our caring team will treat your loved one with dignity and respect.
What is the best way to care for someone who died at home?
It is important to allow your loved one’s body temperature to cool. If necessary, pull back their duvet or blankets, and instead use a light sheet. If possible, raise their head slightly on some pillows. It is important to keep the windows closed, and to turn down the heating (if appropriate).
What to do if someone dies in a care/nursing home
Usually the staff will have discussed with you and your loved one which funeral director is to be used so that when the time comes, they know who to contact.
At the time of their death, the staff at the home will let you know and they will usually call us on your behalf once the death has been verified by a medical professional. We will be able to bring your loved one into our care any time of day or night.
Once your loved one is in our care, we will contact you to introduce ourselves, advise on the next steps and answer any questions you might have. If we attend to the person during the night, we usually wait until the next morning to make this phone call.
What to do if someone dies in a hospital
If someone has died in hospital, you will normally be informed by the hospital staff. You can then contact us to let us know that you would like us to look after your loved one.
We will ask some questions about the person who has died and will phone the hospital to let them know that you would like us to look after your loved one. Once the hospital has completed the necessary paperwork, they will then contact us to give us permission to bring your loved one into our care at Rosedale.
What to do if someone dies outside of the local area
We can still look after your loved one even if they are a significant distance away. We would normally liaise with a funeral director who is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors in their local area to bring the person into their care initially. We would then liaise with the funeral director to bring them into our care. This will most likely incur some additional costs from the funeral director as well as from us (anything outside of a 15 mile radius from our branches).
If the person has died abroad, they will need to be repatriated. This means that regulations in the country of death (which can vary hugely) will need to be followed before your loved one can be brought into our care. Repatriation can be very stressful, particularly if the death was unexpected, but we will guide you through the process step by step.
What if the death is unexpected?
The coroner will become involved for a variety of reasons, particularly if the death was unexpected or a doctor hadn’t seen the person in the previous 28 days. If the coroner is involved, their contracted funeral director will bring the person who has died into their care.
This does not mean that you can’t use Rosedale.
You should still make contact with us and we can then ensure that the appropriate people know that we need to bring them into our care once permission is given. We are experienced in these situations and can guide you through the next steps to ensure the process is as simple as possible.
Registration
All deaths have to be registered by the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, in the county where the death has occurred.
In order for registration to take place, a doctor who knew the person who has died will email a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to an independent medical examiner. The medical examiner will then contact the next of kin to discuss what they believe the cause of death is and allow an opportunity for any questions or queries to be raised. If all is agreed, then the relevant paperwork will be sent to the registrar and you will be advised that you can make an appointment to register the death which must be done within 5 days.
Registration has to be completed in person at a Registrar’s Office: There are no options to register over the phone or online.
Norfolk death registration
Once you know the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been forwarded, you can book an appointment by phone on 0344 800 8020 or online
You will need to register in person, the closest offices to our Norfolk branches are:
Dereham
Diss
Earlham Library
Norwich County Hall
Norwich Archive Centre
Thetford
Suffolk death registration
In Suffolk, there are two ways to make an appointment to register:
If the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has not been completed
You can fill out a ‘pre-registration’ form online. They will then make contact once the MCCD has been received so that you can make an appointment.
If the MCCD has been completed you can fill out an online form to make an appointment or you can contact a registrar’s office directly.
You will need to register in person, the closest offices to our Suffolk branches are:
Woodbridge
Lowestoft
Bury St Edmunds
Stowmarket
Sudbury
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register online or on the phone?
No, you must visit one of the registration offices in person.
During the pandemic, registration could be done over the phone or online, but this is no longer permitted.
Will I need anything for the appointment?
It is helpful to bring the passport, birth certificate and marriage/civil partnership certificate, but it is not vital.
What will I be given at the appointment?
They will give you the login details to use the Tell Us Once service which is linked to the Department of Work and Pensions. It means you can cancel things such as their driving license and passport in once easy application.
They will also advise you on how many Copies of an Entry (sometimes called a Death Certificate) you may need. They are £12.50 each, and many places do not accept photocopies. They are used to close down things like bank accounts.
Finally, they will provide the Registrar’s Certificate for Burial or Cremation. If you tell them that we are looking after the arrangements, they should email it directly to us. If you are given a hard copy of this instead, we will need you to bring it to us.
Is there anything registration doesn’t cover?
Registration does not notify every company. Once you start the process of notifying different places of a death, it can seem overwhelming.
Life Ledger is a fantastic way of notifying hundreds of organisations in one simple online application. We can send you a link to directly arrange this, or you can do it yourself through their website.
Trust Inheritance is another fantastic way to talk through any concerns regarding registration and other bereavement questions. We can arrange a phone call for you at a time that is convenient to you.
Both of the above are completely free of charge, please talk to us if you would like to discuss them further.
What if the coroner is involved?
If a death has been reported to the Coroner, registration cannot take place until their enquiries are complete. The Coroner is usually very good at keeping you informed and will advise you when you will be able to register.
How soon before the funeral do I need to register?
Ideally, registration would have taken place within 5 days of the death so this is not usually a problem. However, sometimes there is a delay and it is important that you keep us informed if this is the case.
Most crematoriums require the Registrar’s Certificate for Burial of Cremation at least three full working days prior to the funeral date. This is because it needs to be approved by the medical referee. If it is not approved, or received in time, then the funeral cannot take place.
For burial, it very much depends on where it is taking place. Most churches require it on the day of the funeral itself, however, town councils (if the burial is in a cemetery) often need it in advance.
I do not live near the county where the person died and can’t travel to register – what can I do?
You can register by declaration. This means that you register in the county in which you live, but they liaise with the registrar in the county in which the person died. There can be a delay in the issuing of paperwork.
Do I need to wait until I’ve registered the death to start funeral arrangements?
Although we will need paperwork that is issued at the time of registration, there is no reason why arrangements can’t start to take place beforehand.
Who can register a death?
- A relative
- A person present at the death
- A senior member of the establishment (such as a nursing home) in which the death occurred
- The occupier of the residence where the death occurred
- The person arranging the funeral (not the funeral director – however, your chosen funeral director may contact us on your behalf to make an appointment for you to register)
How long will it take?
It will take approximately 40 minutes.
What happens when I register?
When you register you will be asked some questions about the person who has died, and will also be told about three things:
Registrar’s Certificate for Burial or Cremation – this will normally be emailed to the funeral director looking after the arrangements. However, if you are given a hard copy, which is bright green in colour, you will need to give this to your funeral director.
Copy of an Entry – this is sometimes called a ‘Death Certificate’. They are £12.50 each and the registrar will be able to advise you on how many might be necessary.
Tell Us Once information – this is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. At registration you will be given a unique reference number which you can use to access the service either online or by phone.
I can’t get an appointment within 5 days – what can I do?
Sometimes there are delays which are out of your control, such as the time it takes for the doctor to complete the paperwork, or available appointment timeslots. The important thing is that you take steps at the earliest opportunity to make an appointment.
As there is paperwork issued at registration that is vital for the funeral to take place, it is really important to update your funeral director if there is going to be a delay.