Guidance & Support

What you need to do next ...

When someone dies, knowing what to do first can feel overwhelming.

This guide walks you through each step clearly and simply, so you always know what to do, who to contact, and how Ian Hazel Funerals can support you.

First Steps

A clear guide for what to do and who to contact straight away

If a Death Has Just Occurred

At Home or in a Care Home

If your loved one passes away at home or in a residential care home, the first step is to contact their GP or the on-call doctor so the death can be verified.

Once the doctor has attended and issued confirmation, please call us on 0121 308 7777 (available 24 hours). We will bring your loved one into our care with the utmost dignity and respect.

In Hospital or Hospice

If a relative who has been a hospital or hospice inpatient dies, the doctors who have been treating your loved one, will usually be able to issue the Medical Certificate. Ask the ward staff or Doctor what you need to do to collect this Certificate.

Most hospitals will give family members the opportunity to sit with their loved one before transfer from the ward or private room to the on-site facilities.

Once the death has been registered, it will enable our team to transfer your loved one from the Hospital Mortuary into our care by Private Ambulance.

Registering the Death

Who can register a death

The following persons are designated by the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 as qualified to give information concerning a death:

Deaths In Houses And Public Institutions

A relative of the deceased, present at the death
A person present at the death
The person causing the disposal of the body
Any inmate if he knew of the happening of the death
A relative of the deceased in attendance during the last illness
A relative of the deceased residing or being in sub-district where the death occurred
The occupier* if he knew of the happening of the death

* “Occupier” in relation to a public institution includes the governor, keeper, master, matron, superintendent or other chief resident officer

Deaths Not In Houses Or Dead Bodies found

Any relative of the deceased having knowledge of any of the particulars required to be registered
Any person present at the death
Any person who found the body
Any person in charge of the body
The person causing the disposal of the body

What information is required to register a death

When the death is registered the informant must be prepared to give the registrar the following particulars relating to the deceased:

The date and place of death
The full name and surname (and the maiden surname if the deceased was a woman who had married)
The date and place of birth
The occupation (and if the deceased was a married woman or a widow the name and occupation of her husband)
The usual address
Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds
If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower

If you have the deceased’s medical card, please deliver this to the registrar.

What does the registrar do?

The Registrar will issue you with : Certificates Issued By The Registrar

Disposal Certificate for the funeral director (A Green Certificate)
Social Security Certificate to be handed in at the DWP offices with any pension books
Copies of The Entry of Death (death certificate) wfor bank, insurance, solicitors can also be purchased at this time.