What Next?

What to do when someone dies at home

If the death occurs at home, or in a rest home, the doctor must first be notified. They will sign the necessary certificate, and allow the removal of the deceased to take place. We at Lowther Funeral Service, are on call 24 hours a day to bring the deceased into our care.

What to do when someone dies in hospital

If the death occurs in hospital, a doctor there will sign the certificate. Please contact us on 0191 447 1450 and we will make an appointment to see you and make all the necessary arrangements. However, if a doctor is unable to issue a certificate, the Coroner will be informed. They may order a post mortem, and an inquest if necessary. The permission of the Coroner is required to carry on with the funeral, although arrangements can be made in preparation.

A death must be registered in the district in which it occurred, normally within 5 days, and before the funeral can take place.

The registrar will need to know the following details about the person who has past away:

Full Name (including middle name)
Date and place of death
Date and place of birth
Occupation
Home Address

The registrar will need the following documents:

National Insurance (if known)
Birth Certificate (or place of birth)
The Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
Death Certificate

Additional information

The Registrar will issue a document authorising the burial or cremation, which we require prior to the funeral taking place. Copies of the entry in the register can be purchased for legal and insurance purposes. (i.e. bank’s, building societies, post office accounts etc). It is advised to order these at the time of registering as copies requested after this time are charged at an increased rate. The registry office also offer a “tell us once service” that will help to go through cancelling anything council related to the deceased. The registrars will give you the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (green form) after the death has been registered. This is required by your funeral director.

If you have any other questions myself and my dedicated team will be able to explain the process in greater detail and answer any questions that you may have.

Dealing with the death of a loved one can be a hard process and sometimes you may need some help, someone to talk to. If you would like someone to be there to listen to you, to offer advice, then please take a look at the Counselling Directory website. There are extensive tools that you can use and gives the details of registered counsellors within the area.

Below is a list of questions that will be asked at the time of arrangement. These have been added in order for you to think about these and not have anything come as a shock to you during the arrangement process.

Full name of deceased?

Age and date of birth?

Address of deceased?

Was the deceased married/widow/widower/separated/single.

Where did the person pass away?

Date and time the person passed away?

Who was the registered Doctor of the deceased?

Is the coroner involved?

Will the deceased be dressed in their own clothes or within a gown provided by ourselves?

Will the service be burial or cremation?

Will the service be in a church first or direct to the crematorium/cemetery chapel.

Where would you like the funeral service to start from? This could be from the home address, meeting at the office in Ryton, a special place or meet directly at the place of service.

Would you require any limousines?

What is the religion of the deceased?

Will the service be religious/non religious?

Were there any favourite hymns/songs?

Did the deceased wear any jewellery? If so, will it stay on or be removed?

Will a newspaper notice be required?

Had you thought about donations in lieu of flowers? If so, which charity?

*If cremation.

Were there any thoughts on what to do with the cremated remains afterwards?

*If burial.

Would this be in a new grave or an existing grave?

If new would it be a double or a single grave?

Is there a headstone?