Arranging a funeral can be an incredibly difficult experience. Although it is necessary to give a loved one the funeral they deserve and the funeral they wanted. While arranging the funeral there are a number of legal requirements to bear in mind and procedures to carry out.

What to do when someone dies

When someone dies it can be an intensely stressful time. It is often highly recommended that a funeral director be contacted to make the funeral arrangements and to provide the essential advice needed to make the necessary arrangements. This is with respect to both the funeral and legal requirements involved when someone dies.

The first five days

Within the first five days it is important to do the following:

Notify the family doctor
Telephone us to begin funeral arrangements (you will need to check for a will or any special requests)
Register the death at the Register Office

Registering a death

Normally a person's death needs to be registered within the first five days. Once this has been done a death certificate will be issued. Registration may be delayed if the death is referred to a coroner.

Who can register a death?

If the person has died in hospital or at home, the death can be registered by the following:

A relative
Someone present at the death
An occupant of the house/official from the hospital
The person making arrangements with the funeral director

If the person has died elsewhere, the death can be registered by the following:

A relative
Someone present at the death
The person who found the body
The person in charge of the body
The person making arrangements with the funeral director

Most deaths are registered by a relative of the deceased. The registrar would normally allow one of the other people listed to register the death if no relatives are available.

Where to register a death

It is best to register a death at a register office within the area in which the person has died. Another register office can be chosen but it may take longer to get the necessary documents, thus delaying the funeral arrangements.

Registering a death will take around half an hour, although in some instances you may need to book an appointment beforehand. For further information please download our leaflet Registering a death in Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield and Barnsley.

Documents and information you will need

When registering the death you will need to take the following documents:

Medical certificate of the cause of death (signed by a doctor)
Birth certificate (if available)
Marriage/civil partnership certificates (if available)
NHS Medical Card (if available)

You will also need to provide the registrar with the following information:

The full name of the deceased
Any names previously used, including maiden name
The date and place of birth of the deceased
The address last occupied by the deceased
The occupation of the deceased
The full name, occupation and date of birth of a surviving spouse or civil partner
Whether the deceased was receiving a state pension or any other state benefits

Documents you will receive

If a post-mortem is not being held, the registrar will issue you with the following:

A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the 'green form'), giving permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made
A Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8); issued for social security purposes if the deceased received a State pension or benefits

You will be able to purchase one or more Death Certificates at this time. These will be needed by the executor or administrator when sorting out the deceased's affairs.

If a post-mortem is required the coroner will issue any necessary documents as quickly as possible afterwards.

The registrar will also give you a booklet called What To Do After a Death, offering advice on administrative issues that need to be sorted out. You can also download a copy of What To Do After a Death (April 2006).

We will provide you with advice and assistance throughout the process to make these proceedings as easy as possible under the circumstances.

It is also important to contact the executor mentioned in the will as soon as possible to sort out the affairs of the deceased.

Who else to contact as soon as possible

You will need to inform those people who are close to the deceased. It is advisable to contact a local newspaper to make the death public and to inform of funeral arrangements for those wishing to attend.

You will also need to close any accounts held by the deceased, cancel or change insurance details, subscriptions, agreements, payments or direct debits. It is also important to arrange to see the deceased's solicitor and read the will as soon as possible; this will tell you if there are any special funeral requests and will name the executors.

Arranging the funeral

It is important when arranging a funeral to ensure that the wishes of the person who has died are carried out wherever possible and their beliefs respected.

Funeral arrangements or aspects of the funeral process may have been discussed in detail with a loved one. It may alternatively be the case that a passing comment has been made. These can often be good platforms from which to tailor a suitable funeral.
Arrangements for a funeral will be made in person to ensure that all requirements are to be met. So at this point it is perhaps a good idea to have in mind the wishes of the deceased and the type of funeral most appropriate to them.

Choosing a type of funeral

Primarily the type of funeral will determine a number of factors in the arrangements process. We will discuss the options available with you to establish the best avenue to take given the circumstances.

The main types of funeral are either a burial or cremation. Sometimes cultural or religious traditions govern this decision, although the wishes of the deceased must be considered.

See our Types of Funeral page for information about the types of funerals available in the UK.

A religious or non-religious ceremony

One often overlooked aspect to consider is whether a religious or non-religious ceremony is appropriate. It is quite helpful to think about the beliefs of the deceased and their lifestyle when considering this, as well as their own wishes. We will help you make the most appropriate decision if requested.

A religious leader or non-religious officiant will pay a visit once these arrangements are finalised to talk about the person who has died. This will allow them to make the ceremony more personal and to make the appropriate arrangements regarding the order of service.

Choosing a coffin

Choosing a coffin can be quite difficult with so many variations. To assist you in this choice we will offer you a catalogue to browse our coffin range. This is not to say that if the desired coffin is not in our catalogue it is not available. We will endeavour to accommodate your requirements when customising a coffin.

In some cases religious or cultural backgrounds may influence the style of the coffin. Again, we will meet your requirements wherever possible.

Transport to the funeral

The deceased will almost always be transported to the funeral by means of a hearse. This can be a motor vehicle or a horse drawn hearse. However, this is not always the case.

A tailored funeral means that you can choose almost any means of transportation. If, for instance, the deceased lived on a farm all their life they may have wanted to be transported by the means of a tractor and trailer. This can be made possible and those wishes fulfilled.

It is also worth thinking about how the mourners will travel to the funeral service. Normally the chief mourners are chauffer driven in a limousine and follow directly behind the hearse. There may be a number of limousines required if the deceased belonged to a large family. In some cases there may be none required at all. The cortege of personal vehicles of friends and distant relatives follow behind the hearse and limousines.

Your requirements will be discussed during the arranging of the funeral. We can offer advice and suggestions if required to make the funeral as to your specifications.

Where to hold the funeral service

A funeral service can be held in a location with the permission of the owner. However, legal and religious stipulations can restrict this location. This could be worth bearing in mind when choosing the type of funeral.

We will however provide our greatest assistance when arranging a location for a funeral to endeavour to accommodate your requirements.

Who will conduct the service?

A funeral service can be conducted by anyone. Traditionally it is either a religious leader or non-religious officiant who carries out this duty, although it can be a family friend or even a member of the family. It can be quite difficult though to conduct a funeral ceremony when the circumstances are such that the deceased is a close friend or family member. It is advisable therefore that this is taken into consideration when deciding on the officiant of the funeral service.

Music and hymns

The playing of music, either live or recorded is common at a funeral ceremony. A favourite hymn or song of the deceased should be considered when arranging the funeral service. Music played at a funeral can be an emotionally lasting tribute to the person who has died. It is therefore important to select an appropriate piece of music to be played if desired.

A number of selected songs or hymns can be chosen and arranged with the officiant to accommodate these requests into the order of service.

Special readings or requests

Along with music, a favourite piece of literature may be read in tribute to the deceased. This could be a poem, lyrics from a song or even a characteristic saying that the person frequently used. This makes a funeral very personal and unique, and should be discussed with the officiant to incorporate these requirements in the order of service.

We will provide advice and assistance throughout the arranging of the funeral. And we are only a telephone call away should circumstances change.

Floral tributes

At most funerals some sort of floral tribute is paid to the deceased and their family. We will discuss floral tributes with you and show you our catalogue to provide an idea of the many styles available. Alternatively you can make private arrangements either via the local florist, the telephone directory or the internet.

You may wish to restrict floral tributes to the family only, in which case charitable donations in lieu of flowers can be made to a favourite charity by those wanting to pay tribute.

It may be worthwhile thinking about what to do with the flowers once the funeral service has finished. You may wish to have them placed on the grave or, in the event of cremation, you may decide to place them where the deceased's remains are to be interred or strewn later.

After the funeral service

Normally after the funeral service the mourners will gather for lunch or tea, depending upon the time of the funeral ceremony. This is dependant upon a religious aspect where applicable. The gathering can be held in any location that is arranged. Such venues can include a private home, village hall, local pub or country hotel.

We can arrange the location and catering and provide waitresses as desired. The location of the lunch or tea may have an influence over catering though, which is something to consider when arranging.