In the unfortunate event of a bereavement, there are a few essential steps to be taken in the first few days:
1. Obtain a medical certificate
Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor, which is necessary to register the death.
2. Register the death
Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland) to receive the necessary documents for the funeral. If the death has been reported to the coroner, you must obtain their permission before registering the death.
You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator, or the person making the funeral arrangements.
Use the “Register a Death” page on the gov.uk website for guidance.
3. Make funeral arrangements
- The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, but you can also arrange a funeral yourself.
Choosing a funeral director
Select a funeral director who is a member of one of the following organizations:
- National Association of Funeral Directors
- National Federation of Funeral Directors
- Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
These organizations follow codes of practice and must provide a price list upon request. Some local councils offer their own funeral services, including non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association can also assist with non-religious funerals.
Arranging a funeral yourself
Contact the cemeteries and crematorium department of your local council to arrange a funeral independently.
Funeral costs
Funeral expenses may include:
- Funeral director fees
- Disbursements or third-party costs (e.g., crematorium or cemetery fees, newspaper announcements)
- Local authority burial or cremation fees
Funeral directors typically provide a detailed list of all costs in their quotes.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care was founded in 1959 in Richmond upon Thames and is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Cruse offers telephone, email and website support.
Phone
0300 200 4108
Website
www.cruse.org.ukRoad Victims Trust
A support service for anyone bereaved or otherwise affected by a road collision.
Covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
Phone
01234 843345
Website
www.rvtrust.org.uk
Email
enquiries@rvtrust.co.ukThe Compassionate Friends
Supporting bereaved parents and their families after the death of their son or
daughter, at any age and from any cause.
Helpline
0845 123 2304
Phone
01767 689781
Website
www.tcf.org.ukAge UK
Provides useful guides and factsheets on coping with the end of life, including ‘When someone dies’, ‘Bereavement’, ‘Making a will’, ‘Dealing with an estate’, and ‘Planning for a funeral’.
Phone
0800 678 1602
Website
www.ageuk.org.uk
Email
contact@ageuk.co.ukBedford Bereavement Services
Offering support to all bereaved people during monthly group meetings at Norse Rd Crematorium.
Phone
01234 718150
Email
catherine.appleby@bedford.gov.uk
Website
www.bedford.gov.ukChild Bereavement UK
Clare Charity Centre, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Bucks, HP14 4BF.
Phone
0800 02 888 40
Email
support@childbereavementuk.org
Website
www.childbereavementuk.orgWay Up
A national charity offering a social and support network for men and women who lost their partner when aged 51 or over.
Website
www.way-up.co.ukCitizens Advice Bureau
For free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice.
Website
www.citizensadvice.org.ukMind
Provides confidential help on a range of mental health issues and a special legal service to the public, lawyers, and mental health workers.
Phone
0300 123 3393
Text
86463
Email
info@mind.org.uk
Website
www.mind.org.ukWar Widows Association of Great Britain
The Association was formed in 1971 and has around 2000 members. Its original aim was to fight for the removal of the tax burden from the War Widow’s Pension.
Today we’re committed to improving the lives of war widows across the UK.
Phone
0845 241 2189
Email
info@warwidows.org.uk
Website
www.warwidows.org.ukSands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)
Victoria Charity Centre, 11 Belgrave Road, London, SW1V 1RB.
Phone
0808 164 3332
Email
helpline@sands.org.uk
Website
www.sands.org.ukVeterans UK
Ministry of Defence, Norcross, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs, FY5 3WP.
Freephone
0808 1914 4 18 (UK only)
Email
veterans-uk@mod.uk
Website
www.gov.uk/veterans-ukThe Bereavement Service Helpline
Helpline to report the death of someone receiving benefits. They will notify each office that paid the benefit and offer an eligibility test.
Helpline
0800 731 0469
Textphone
0800 731 0464Samaritans
A free confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK.
Phone
116 123
Email
jo@samaritans.org
Website
www.samaritans.orgChild Death Helpline
The death of a child is unimaginable unless it’s something you’ve been through yourself. That’s why our helpline is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers who are all bereaved parents.
Phone
0800 282 986
0808 800 6019 if you are calling from a mobile
Website
www.childdeathhelpline.org.ukCivil Legal Advice
You might be able to get free and confidential advice from Civil Legal Advice (CLA) as part of legal aid if you’re in England or Wales.
Phone
0345 345 4 345
Text
‘legal aid’ and your name to 80010 to get a call back
Website
www.gov.uk/civil-legal-adviceProbate and Inheritance Tax
Available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on weekends and bank holidays.
Phone
0300 123 1072The Good Funeral Guide
The UK’s only not-for-profit independent information resource for funeral advice.
Website
www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk