What to do when someone dies

What you will need to do:

If Death Occurs At Home

• Telephone the doctor here at the surgery on 01872 863221 who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.
• Contact a funeral director.
• Arrange to collect the doctor's Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery)

Registering the death

When someone dies, you need to register the death, notify government departments and council services and obtain various certificates.  A death should be registered within 5 days, unless the Registrar says that this period may be extended.

The registrar will require the following information:

• The date and place of death
• The full name of the deceased (and maiden name where appropriate).
• The date and place of birth of the deceased
• The deceased's occupation and the full names and occupation of her husband if she was a married woman or a widow or of her Civil Partner or surviving Civil Partner
• The deceased's usual address
• Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension from public funds.
• If the deceased was married, or a Civil Partner, the date of birth of the spouse or surviving Civil Partner
• Either the National Health Service number of the deceased if known, or the medical card itself if available, should be handed to the Registrar.
• The deceased's occupation and the full names and occupation of his wife if he was a married man or widower or of his Civil Partner or surviving Civil Partner
• Whether the deceased had a Passport, Driving Licence or Blue Badge

For more information about this process and what you and the family may expect please go to Register a death - Cornwall Council

Certificates and forms

After the death has been registered, the Registrar will issue you with some forms. These are as follows:

• A Certificate for Burial or Cremation
  (known as the Green Form) is for you to take to the funeral director so that the funeral can take place. In some circumstances this is issued by the Coroner
• A Certificate of Registration of Death 
  (Form BD8/344) is for Social Security purposes. Please read the back of the form in your own time and return it using the details on the form
• Standard Death Certificates
  You may also need to purchase some death certificates. A death certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The Registrar will advise you as to the type and number of certificates which you may need.
  There is a fee for a death certificate please check with the Registrar for the most up to date information.  Certificates cost £12.50 and are sent 4 days after you apply.

  If you do not have a GRO index reference number, you’ll have to pay £3.50 extra for each search. Certificates are sent 15 working days after you apply.  If you need the certificate sooner, you can use the priority service for £38.50. It’ll be sent the next working day if you order by 4pm.  Extra copies are the same price.

If The Death Occurs In Hospital

• Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.
• Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow the steps as advised on the Cornwall County Registering a Death web page.

Note For Cremation

Your funeral director will usually liaise directly with the surgery regarding the additional certification required.