Dealing with a loved one’s loss is devastating enough in itself, but if we have to deal with the paperwork and other tasks and responsibilities as well, it can be quickly overwhelming. Fortunately, there are ways you can seek help for all the necessary details involved in dealing with the death of your loved one, and foremost is seeking help from a funeral director. But there is paperwork involved, as already mentioned, and such as registering the death of your loved one with the proper authority. The process can be a challenge, but if you know what steps to take and what to expect, then it will be less daunting to arrange. Here’s how you can effectively register the death of your loved one in the UK: what to expect.
The basics of death registration
Death registration should be done in the local register where the person resided, although if they passed away in a nursing home, hospital, or public building, the registration should be done in the local register of that building or nursing home.
You should make an appointment with the register and provide details and other documents, one of which is the medical certificate of cause of death. Additionally, it would be helpful to have other documents such as the person’s birth certificate, their council tax bill, their driving license, passport, marriage or civil partnership certificate (if any), NHS medical card, and proof of their address. Although you may not need all the above-mentioned documents, it is essential to have the medical certificate of cause of death. If you have some questions about the documents needed, you can always turn to your local funeral director, such as funeral directors in Leeds, who can give you the information you need.
You also need to give the registrar information such as the person’s full name, their full address, their place and date of birth, the details of their death such as when and where it occurred, and their occupation. If the person was receiving benefits such as a public fund allowance or a pension, you should inform the register as well.
What happens afterwards
The process of registering the death can take about half an hour, and when it is done, you will receive the certificate of registration of death along with other documents depending on where you are. For example, if you are in England and Wales, you will receive a green certificate for cremation or burial and a death certificate. The certificate of registration of a death may have to be filled in, and you may have to submit it to the social security office in the locale where the person passed away. If so, the form you have to fill in will also come with an envelope which is pre-paid.
More on the death certificate
As mentioned, you will receive a death certificate which comes with a small fee (around £8 to £12, depending on location), and the death certificate will show the complete name of the person who died, their sex and age, the details of their birth, the cause of their death, their occupation, when and where they passed away when their death was registered, and the registrar’s signature.