Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council ceased to exist on April 1st 2009 when its services
and responsibilities transferred to
Cheshire East Council. This website is available for information only.
What to do after a
Death
Introduction
When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to be
made. This leaflet aims to give simple advice and basic guidance
about what to do after a death.
Death at Home
If in doubt, call the doctor or ring for an ambulance (999). If the
death was unexpected or suspicious, contact the Police. You must
stay with the body until they arrive.If the death was expected, and
a doctor had recently seen the deceased, call them. The doctor will
then issue a medical certificate, which will show the cause of
death.If the deceased is to be cremated, let the doctor know, as
they will have to contact a second doctor to confirm the cause of
death.
The funeral director will get the
doctors to sign the cremation certificates for which a
charge will be made by the doctors. This charge is called
a disbursement and will be added to your invoice from the funeral
director.
Death in
Hospital
If the deceased died in hospital the hospital staff will contact
the next of kin. The deceased will be kept in the hospital mortuary
until collection of the body has been arranged.The staff at the
hospital will advise on the collection of the deceased's personal
belongings and on other formalities.
Death
Elsewhere
If the death occurs away from home, the authorities in that area
still complete the initial formalities. If the body is to be
returned home for the funeral, then all the necessary arrangements,
including transportation of the deceased, can be dealt with by the
funeral director.If a person dies abroad the funeral director will
advise on what options are available.
How to Register
a Death
Attached to the medical certificate of the cause of death is a
notice of who can register a death.One of the people on this notice
should take the medical certificate to the Registrar of Births,
Deaths and Marriages office, in the sub-district of where the death
occurred.The Registrar's office for a person who died in Crewe and
Nantwich is located at:
Delamere House
Delamere Street
Crewe, Cheshire
Tel:( 01270) 505106
Please check when you can register
the death and remember to take the Medical Certificate showing the
cause of death.
The Registrar will need to
know the following information:
- The date and place of death
- The deceased's last home address
- The deceased's first names and surname (and the maiden name
where necessary)
- The deceased's date and place of birth (town and county if born
in the UK and country if born abroad)
- The deceased's occupation and the name and occupation of the
deceased's spouse (if appropriate)
- If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving
widow or widower
- The deceased's medical card (this will be returned)
The Registrar will give you a
certificate for burial or cremation (known as the green form)
depending on what service you have chosen. This certificate
must be given back to the funeral director, so
that arrangements can proceed.
The Registrar will also give you a
Certificate of Registration of Death (form DB8). This is a white
form and is for Social Security purposes only. Complete the
sections that apply and then return it to your Social Security
Office.
The Death
Certificate
If you want a copy of the certified entry made in the Register of
Deaths, this can be purchased at a cost of £3.50.
You may need a Death Certificate for
the Will and for any claims regarding pensions, insurance, savings
and dealings with the deceased's bank/building society accounts.
Additional Death Certificates can be purchase from the Registrar at
a cost of £3.50.
The
Police
If the death has occurred suddenly, or the death is unexpected or
happened due to an act of violence or accident then the police must
be advised. The Coroner will be notified in such cases. The doctor
or Police will notify the coroner.
The Coroner
When a death has been reported to
the Coroner, this will be investigated by him to establish the
cause of death. The Coroner may ask for a Post-mortem to be
performed. The Coroner will hold an inquest in cases, where death
appeared unnatural, unexplained or due to violence or an
accident.
Arranging the
Funeral
Funeral directors will manage funeral arrangements and give advice
and support. Check if the Funeral Director you choose belongs to a
Trade Association or is certified by the Council.
At the present time six of the
Borough's funeral directors are on the Council's "preferred"
list.
- United Co-operative Funeral Services, Crewe. Tel:
01270 584329
- Oxley's Funeral Services, Crewe. Tel: 01270
214009
- F J Tresidder and Son (Crewe and Nantwich Branches).
Tel: 01270 505878 or 01270 626653
- Nantwich Funeral Services. Tel: 01270 812512
- R J Griffiths, Sandbach. Tel: 01270
765783
- Crewe Funeral Services. Tel 01270 588980
Do not make any funeral arrangements
until you are sure that the death does not have to be reported to
the Coroner, as this may affect the date when the funeral can take
place. Find out if there is a Will as this may give specific
requests for arranging the funeral.
Remember that if you arrange a
funeral you are responsible for paying the bill. It is a good idea
therefore to check how the funeral will be paid for and whether
there will be enough in the deceased's estate to cover the
costs.
The funeral director can arrange all
aspects of the funeral service for you. Always ask for a written
estimate of the total cost of the funeral so that you are clear on
what has to be paid and for what.
The Council has set down a standard
service which has been designed to ease the pressure of arranging a
funeral and this is known as:
"The Local Funeral", At the present
time the Co-operative Funeral Services, Crewe, are the preferred
firm and have guaranteed to provide a decent funeral. As at 1st
August 2006 the Specially Agreed Price is £950.00 plus
disbursements. Please check this price is still applicable by
telephoning 01270 584329 for an update.
Please contact the Cemetery and
Crematorium Office or Co-operative Funeral Services for more
information on "The Local Funeral"
If the cost of the funeral is likely
to cause financial problems this can be discussed with the funeral
director.
What to do
after a Death
DSS booklet D49, provides detailed information and advice on
everything that needs to be done following a death and procedures
for administering an estate. This booklet is free of charge and
obtainable from local Benefit Agency or Post Offices.
Advice can be given on how to reduce
the costs and if applicable to claim assistance from the Benefits
Agency Social Fund for funeral payments (claim pack SF200).
For more information please telephone: (01270)
538000