Someone dies

What to Do

When a relative or a friend dies, you will need to:

• Contact your local GP surgery, to organise for a doctor to come and certify the death. Doctors will normally provide a Medical Certificate. If the death occurs in hospital, the doctor there will provide the certificate.
• Contact a funeral director.
• Decide if you want the body to be taken to the funeral director’s Chapel of Rest.
• Make arrangements for a burial or cremation.

You must register the death with the local Registrar of Deaths. They will need:

• The date and place of death
• Name and surname of the deceased
• Maiden surname, if the deceased was a woman who had married
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation
• Name and occupation of husband, where the deceased was a married woman or widow
• 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
• The deceased’s medical card, if available, should also be given to the registrar.

It is most important that the information recorded in the death register is correct. If any mistake is made, for example in the spelling of a name or surname or in the description of the occupation, it will give the relative or other person who registered the death some trouble to have it put right. The person registering the death should check the information in the register very carefully before the entry is signed.

The registrar will then give you:

• A certificate of burial /cremation (form 101E for the Funeral Director)
• A certificate and registration of death (Form BD8). This must be completed and sent to the Social Security Office.
• A death certificate – a certified copy of the entry in the Register. At this point, it is best to request additional copies, which will be required for bank accounts, insurance policies, wills and private pensions department, etc. There will be an additional charge for extra copies requested at a later date.

When this is done, please telephone Towers Watson on 01707 607601 or email Nortel.Networks@eu.watsonwyatt.com with: 

• The full name, date of birth and pension number (if possible) of the pensioner
• Date of death
• Spouse’s name, address, and date of birth
• Your name, address and relationship to the deceased
• Details of who the Pensions department should contact if this is to be someone other than the spouse

Towers Watson will need a copy of the Death Certificate. They will send a letter requesting additional information such as the spouse’s birth and marriage certificates if they are required.

Funeral arrangements

Normally you would instruct a funeral director to undertake the arrangements. However, if you want to make your own arrangements, you will need to:

• Make arrangements for the funeral service with the church, cemetery, crematorium, etc.
• Arrange a coffin and pallbearers.
• Arrange transportation for the coffin and mourners to the funeral.
• Choose between flowers and / or charitable donations before advising mourners.
• Draft and place announcements in the local press.
• Consider any personal touches the deceased may have wanted - readings, favourite flowers, tunes, hymns etc.
• Make arrangements for food and refreshments after the service.
• Discuss the payment of fees required for the grave, clergy, etc.
• Decide upon a suitable memorial or the dispersal / interment of the ashes.
• Ask for a breakdown of all the costs involved from the funeral director.

Some people choose to make some of their own funeral arrangements and pay for them in advance. This reduces the burden for their next of kin. Many funeral directors offer this type of service in complete confidence. Should you use this service please remember to leave the name of the funeral directors you have instructed with your Will or solicitor.

Further advice

The information provided above is a general guide only. You will however need to confirm its accuracy and whether any special requirements apply in your case. Further help, advice and information relating to bereavement and death may be found at the following websites:

• http://www.ukonline.gov.uk
• http://www.helptheaged.org.uk

Nortel would like to thank Help The Aged, Cruse Bereavement Care and the Double Majority Association of ICL/Fujitsu for their help and advice on this subject.

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