The steps that follow when a loved one passes away are hard to prepare for – and equally difficult to take – when the time comes.
With E&B Shufflebotham, you can be assured that you will receive the best advice and support from the moment you contact us.
We will attend without delay, arrange to convey the body of the deceased from home or hospital, and start to put arrangements in place for the funeral ceremony.
We urge and recommend that you contact us at your earliest opportunity, enabling us to support you with the immediate duties following death, and offering counsel and guidance to move forward with your mind at rest.
Here are the steps that must take place when a loved one passes away:
At home or a rest home
- Call the doctor who care for the deceased. They will confirm the death and sign a certificate, detailing the cause.
- Contact us. After arranging for the body of the deceased to be transferred into our care, we will be able to advise you on subsequent arrangements for the funeral.
In hospital
- Contact us as soon as possible so we can put funeral arrangements in motion and advise you on your responsibilities.
- You will need to collect the Certificate of Death from the Hospital and deliver it to the Registrar’s office in the area where the death occurred. It is advisable to also take other official documents, such as birth, marriage and medical certificates pertaining to the deceased.
- The Registrar will provide you with documents to officially authorise the funeral, including a green certificate that you should pass to us without delay.
- Besides giving us permission to assume responsibility for the funeral, the green certificate also provides information on any state benefit to which you may be entitled.
- We will start to make arrangements for the funeral, consulting with you on any and all matters of preference with regards to the service.
Sudden death
- Contact us straight away if a loved one passes away suddenly.
- With a sudden death, it is often the case that the deceased had not been under the regular care of a GP and, for this reason and more, it is routine for the Coroner to be involved.
- We will handle liaison with the Coroner’s office on your behalf and guide you through the process.
Death away from home or in another country
- Please contact us as soon as possible if your loved one passes away while abroad or away from home. We will be able to handle all the necessary arrangements on your behalf.
Once your loved one has been brought into our care, it is important to decide whether you would like them to rest at our funeral home or with you, at home. In either case, we will need to ensure the correct preparations are made, so please make us aware of your preference at the earliest opportunity.
We will require the green certificate issued by the Registrar before burial or cremation can take place. The registration process may differ if the death has been referred to the Coroner, and we will be able to advise you accordingly. Copies of the entry of death can be obtained for a small fee, should you need them for legal or financial purposes.
Affairs of the deceased
There are various practicalities that it is important to consider when a loved one passes away:
- Financial affairs, including bank, building society and Post Office accounts, and premium bonds.
- Regular payments, including insurance, credit cards, standing orders, rental and hire purchase.
- Informing utilities companies and similar – i.e. gas, electricity, water, TV licensing, car and hose insurance, etc. – of a change of name for responsibility.
It is possible that other family members’ financial circumstances will be affected by their loved one’s passing. It is therefore important to contact your local Town Hall, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and DWP office and find out about any support grants and benefits that may be available