What to do if a death occurs?

When a death occurs, you will feel many different emotions and there are many decisions that you have to make.

At Autumn Leaf , we as your local Funeral Directors are here to offer you all the support and guidance you will require during your bereavement. It is important that you know that Ian, Mary, Alicia and their team will be with you every step of the way and that there is always help and support for you during this distressing time.

When a death occurs at home

It is important at this time that you try to remain calm.

If the death is expected, you must firstly inform the deceased’s Doctor – anytime; day or night.

The Doctor will then visit the deceased to certify the death.

You should then contact us – please remember that our team at Autumn Leaf are available 24 hour a day to care for your needs.

We will arrange with you a suitable time for us to convey your loved one to our Chapel of Rest at Tabernacle.

At a conveniently arranged time, we will then meet with you at an arranged address, or you can visit us at Tabernacle, to discuss the funeral arrangements and where we can discuss how we can cater for all your requirements

We will arrange with your family Doctor to issue a medical certificate which will be required for registration of the death.

When a death occurs suddenly

If the death is unexpected and the deceased has not been see recently by the family Doctor, the death is reported to the police and the matter is then handled by the Coroner.

This procedure is different but not unusual.

The Coroner and their officers are working in your interest and will always keep you informed at this sad time.

Contact should be made with ourselves as soon as possible so that we can assist with the handling of this procedure, relieving the family of any further distress.

As soon as the Coroner has finished all of their investigations, your loved one will be brought safely back to our loving care at the Chapel of Rest.

When a death occurs in Hospital

If you are not with your loved one at the time, the Hospital will inform you as soon as it is possible to do so.

The hospital will then arrange the issue of a death certificate.

It is important to advise us here at Autumn Leaf as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be put in place so that your loved one can be brought into our safe hands at the Chapel of Rest.

Registration

We at Autumn Leaf are always on hand to explain further how you registrar a death and we will help you in any way we can. We are always glad to provide transport for you to travel to the registrars if you so need it.

Remember – we are always here to help and advise.

A death must be registered in the country in which it has occurred. Whenever possible this should be done by a near relative/executor.

The registrar will require the Doctor’s Certificate of the Cause of Death. In some circumstances, a Coroner’s Certificate will also be required.

The Registrar will also require the following information:

National Health Number of the deceased

National Insurance Number

Date and Place of death

Full name of the deceased

Maiden surname (if married)

Date and place of birth

Home address and postcode of the deceased

Occupation of the deceased (even if retired)

Occupation of spouse or civil partner

Name and address of informant and their relationship to the deceased

If the deceased is married or in a civil partnership at date of death, the date of birth of the surviving partner

The Registrar will issue a green certificate (unless otherwise issued by the Coroner) which you should hand to ourselves as soon as possible. The Registrar will also issue a white certificate of registration which will cancel any social security benefits and also the state pension. The Registrar will also issue certified copies of the entry into the Register which you may need for legal or estate matters e.g. Life insurances; probate; banks; savings certificates; premium bonds and any other financial interests. A fee is applicable for these certificates.