The days following the loss of a loved one can go by in a blur, with the event being amongst the most difficult you'll face in your lifetime.
The following is some practical, considered advice to aid you in dealing with the events following your loss.
You will need to contact their GP surgery or call the out of hours doctors on 111. The attending doctor will verify the death. Once the doctor has done this, you can contact us as your chosen Funeral Directors. Within the following days the GP will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, this will be needed to register the death.
You will need to contact the bereavement office within the hospital. They will inform you when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is available for you to collect. Upon receipt of the certificate you will need to register the death at the registry office within the jurisdiction of where the death has occurred. You can then contact one of our dedicated funeral directors at F.P Gaunt & Sons Ltd.
The Nursing Staff will inform a doctor who will attend the nursing home to verify the death. Either you or a staff member will then contact us as your nominated Funeral Directors. You will need to contact the GP Surgery to obtain the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Once receiving the certificate you can make an appointment to register the death at the registry office of your jurisdiction (by appointment only).
You may be entitled to help from the Department of Work and Pensions towards the cost of the funeral, view the Bereavement Benefits for more information.
If the deceased hasn't seen their usual doctor for over 14 days, the death may be reported to the coroner. A death may also be referred to the coroner if there are any suspicious circumstances. There are a number of different options The Coroner may take and they will liaise with and support you throughout their investigation. Depending on their action the procedure of Registration and Documentation is somewhat different. The GP Doctor will not need to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, instead the Coroner will inform you where and when to register the death and they will send any information to the registrars in advance. You can still contact us whilst any investigation is taking place, we can help advise and assist you and go through any questions you may have or Funeral Arrangements you wish to make.
You will need to provide:
ONCE YOU HAVE OBTAINED THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF CAUSE OF DEATH, THE DEATH WILL NEED TO BE REGISTERED. ALL DEATHS MUST BE REGISTERED AT THE REGISTRY OFFICE WITHIN THE JURISTRICTION OF WHERE THE DEATH HAS OCCURRED. MOST REGISTRY OFFICES WORK ON AN APPOINTMENT BASIS ONLY SO YOU WILL NEED TO CALL TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT.
• A close relative of the deceased
• A relative in attendance during the last illness
• A relative in the district where the death occurred
• A person who was present at the time of death
• The person arranging the funeral
• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
• Full name of deceased including any aliases and maiden names
• The deceased’s date and place of birth
• Birth certificate, if possible
• The usual residence of the deceased
• Their occupation, and their husband’s occupation (if applicable)
• The date and place of death
The Registrars Certificate for Cremation or Burial (a green certificate that we need at the funeral home) The Death Certificate – This is a copy of the entry into the register. We advise you obtain sufficient copies of the death certificate for insurance companies, banks etc. There is a small fee to be paid for additional copies.
by appointment only
We're always available to talk and offer advice, but if you need to talk to someone about your grief sometimes a councillor is the best choice. We offer up to 6 free sessions of support with our dedicated SAIF Care team. Please speak to your Funeral Director for more information or to find a councillor in your area you can search for one on Counselling Directory.
SAIF Care is the UK-wide bereavement service offered by independent funeral directors who are members of the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF).
If you're looking for bereavement support or more information please do take a look at the SIF Care website https://saifcare.org.uk/ or contact us directly.
Directors:
P. R Gaunt (Dip FD, MBIE)
H. J Share
S. A Meikle-Janney
S. J Gaunt (Dip FAA)
J. S Gaunt