PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Practical information following your loss

On this page we have assembled some practical advice and funeral information for when a loved one dies and the procedures that you will need to follow. This will differ depending on where the death took place and whether a coroner will become involved. Please read on to learn more.

what to do when a death occurs

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.

IF DEATH OCCURS AT HOME

You will need to contact their GP surgery or call 111 for the out of hours doctors. The attending doctor will verify the death. Once the death has been verified, you can contact us as your chosen funeral directors. The GP will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death within the following days, as this will be needed to register the death.

IF DEATH OCCURS AT HOSPITAL

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 collection. After you have received the certiﬁcate you will need to register the death at the registry oﬃce within the jurisdiction of where the death has occurred. Once you have done so, you can then contact one of our dedicated funeral directors at Black Country Funeral Services.

IF DEATH OCCURS AT A NURSING/CARE HOME

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).

HELP TOWARDS THE COST OF A FUNERAL:

You may be entitled to help from the Department of Work and Pensions towards the cost of the funeral, for more information regarding Bereavement Benefits please contact us.

What Should I Do If the Coroner Becomes Involved?

If the deceased hasn’t seen their usual doctor for over 14 days the death will be reported to the coroner. The procedure is somewhat diﬀerent in which no doctor will issue a Medical Certiﬁcate of Cause of Death. Instead, there are diﬀerent options the coroner can take and they will liaise with you throughout their investigation. The death may also be referred to the coroner if there are any suspicious circumstances relating to the death. The coroner will inform you where and when to register the death. They will also send any information to the registrars in advance. You can still contact us while this is taking place, as we can advise and assist you while going through any funeral arrangements you wish to make.

Registration of a Death

Registration of Death

You will need to provide:

The Death Certificate
Full name
Date and place of birth
Occupation (or former occupation if retired)

If the deceased is a married woman, you will also need:

Maiden name
Husband’s full name and occupation

You will be issued with:

A white certificate (for the Department of Social Security)
A green certificate (for Black Country Funeral Services)

Registration Process

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.

WHO CAN REGISTER A DEATH?

• 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

INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE REGISTRAR

• 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

CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE REGISTRAR

The Registrar's 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 to obtain sufficient copies of the death certificate for insurance companies, banks etc. There is a small fee to be paid for additional copies.

LOCAL REGISTRY OFFICES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Sandwell Registry Office	Highfields House, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8RJ, 0121 368 1188
Dudley Registry Office	Priory Hall, Priory Park, Dudley, DY1 4EU, 0300 555 2345
Stourbridge Registry Office	Thomas Robinson Building, Cemetery Road, Stourbridge, DY9 8AN, 0300 555 2345
Birmingham Registry Office	Holliday Wharf, Holliday Street, Birmingham, B1 1TJ, 0121 675 1000
Bromsgrove Registry Office	Market Street, Bromsgrove, B61 8DA, 01905 768181
Worcester Registry Office	County Hall, Spetchley Road, WR5 2NP, 01905 768181

Do you need someone to talk to?

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.