Practical guidance on registering a death
When someone close to you dies, you may be unsure of what to do. We hope this booklet will help you through the first few days.
What do I need to do first?
• You will need to tell close family and friends what has happened.
• You will obtain a completed death certificate. This is sometimes called the ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’ (MCCD) or ‘Form 11’ from the doctor.
• The MCCD will need to have been completed in order to do this. Currently, the MCCD will be sent from the Hospital to the registrars. Should this be different, the Hospital will advise you.
• You should think about the funeral. If you wish, you can contact a funeral director before you register the death. It is best not to delay making contact with the funeral director.
• You should try to find the Will of the person who has died. If you can’t find it, check if a lawyer holds a copy.
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When and how do I register the death?
• The death of someone close can be overwhelming and you may need help to do all these things. Relatives, friends or neighbours can support you.
• A priest, minister or religious leader may also be able to help you or tell you where you can find help.
• You can get advice from the Chaplaincy service at the hospital, a funeral director, your family doctor (GP) or a solicitor. Some organisations for example, Citizen’s Advice Scotland may also be able to help.
• You must register the death within eight days. You can do this at any Registrar’s Office in Scotland.
• You may need to make an appointment to register a death, so you should telephone the Registrar’s Office.
• You can find the contact details of local Registrars’ Offices at the back of this booklet, in the telephone book or online at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.
Who can register the death?
• A close relative or partner would normally register the death. An executor, someone who was present at the death, or the occupier of the property where the person died can also register the death.
• However, anyone can register the death as long as they have the information that is needed. So if you feel too upset, you can ask someone else to do this.
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What documents do I need?
To register the death, you will need the ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’. It is helpful if you can also take:
• The person’s birth certificate and marriage or civil partnership certificate(s)
• Their NHS medical card and any documents about a state pension or any social security benefits.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all these documents. The Registrar will still be able to register the death.
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What details do I need to bring?
Details needed for registration:
• Full name, occupation, postal address of the deceased person and their date and country of birth.
• If the deceased was a married man, widower or divorced, the full name of his wife or former wife.
• If the deceased was a married woman, a widow or divorced, the full name and occupation of her husband or former husband.
• If the deceased has been married more than once, particulars of previous spouses are also required.
• If the deceased had a civil partner, or had previously been in a civil partnership, the details of the civil partner.
• If the deceased was in a relationship at the date of death, the date of birth of the surviving widow, widower or partner.
• The full name and occupation of the deceased person’s father and the full name and maiden surname of the deceased’s mother.
• The name and address of the deceased’s own doctor.
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What does a review of the ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’ involve?
A national review system of the ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’ provides independent checks on the quality and accuracy of such certificates. All deaths not referred to the Procurator Fiscal or relating to a still birth will be subject to random selection for review by Health Information Scotland medical reviewers, an organisation independent of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
What form will the reviews take?
There will be two main categories of review:
Level one review
• Expected to be completed in one working day.
• Will apply to about 10% of non-fiscal or stillbirth deaths.
Level two review
• Expected to be completed in three working days.
• Will apply to approximately 1,000 deaths a year (Scotland-wide).
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What does that mean for me?
• The doctor who certifies the death will explain the content of the ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’ to you. You can ask questions of the doctor or nurse.
• If the death is not a stillbirth of a baby or a sudden death which involves referral to the Procurator Fiscal, you may be advised that the certificate has been selected for a random review when you take it to the registrar. You do not have to do anything at this point.
• The review relates to the quality and accuracy of the ‘Medical Certificate of Cause of Death’ and involves the independent medical reviewers contacting the certifying doctor. The registrar will contact you as soon as the review has taken place to allow you to proceed to the Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14) and then to arrange the funeral.
• You need not delay in contacting a funeral director even if a review is taking place. The time of the funeral cannot, however, be confirmed until the Form 14 has been issued.
(Please see flow chart on page 11)
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What will the registrar give me?
When you register the death, the Registrar will give you a number of documents, free of charge:
• A certificate of registration of death (Form 14). You should give this to your funeral director.
• A green social security registration or notification of death certificate (From 334/S1). You will need this if the person who dies received a state pension or any social security benefits.
• A shortened version of the death certificate.
You can also buy copies of the full death certificate. Some organisations may ask for this, for example, insurance companies or banks. There is a charge of £12 per certificate. Urgent copies cost £15 per certificate.
For more information, go to the General Register Office for Scotland’s website www.gro-scotland.gov.uk or ask someone at the local Registrar’s Office. There is a list of local Registrars’ Offices throughout Ayrshire, Arran, Bute and Dumfries and Galloway at the back of this booklet. Remember, you have to telephone in advance to make an appointment before you can register a death.
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How to pay for the funeral
Funeral costs vary and you may wish to ask several funeral directors about the service they provide.
Funeral directors should explain their costs and give you a written estimate. Before meeting the funeral director, you should try to think about how to pay for the funeral.
1. Find out if the person who died:
• Made arrangements to pay for the funeral for example, with a life assurance policy or a prepaid funeral plan.
• Left enough money to pay for the funeral. Funeral costs have first claim on any remaining estate.
2. If no money is available and you get benefits or tax credits, you may be able to apply for a ‘Funeral payment’ from the Social Fund. You should:
• Ask someone at your local Jobcentre Plus if you qualify for this or call the Department of Work and Pensions on 0800 731 0469.
• Tell the funeral director as soon as possible if you want to apply.
3. If your wife, husband or civil partner has died you may be able to apply for a benefit called a ‘Bereavement payment’. You should ask at the local Jobcentre Plus if you qualify for this or call the Department of Work and Pensions.
4. You can find out more about this on the ‘Bereavement payment’ section on the www.gov.uk website.
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The ‘Funeral payment’ and ‘Bereavement payment’ are subject to conditions and you should not assume you are eligible.
If no one is able to arrange and pay for the funeral, the local council may be able to.
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directors Funeral directors in East Ayrshire Auchinleck Alexander Muir 185 Main Street KA18 2BA 01290 338248 Cumnock Cumnock Funeral Care 44 Glaisnock Street Cumnock, KA18 1BY 01290 423628 Fosters 107 Glaisnock Street Cumnock, KA18 1JP 0800 121 8090 George Telfer 105 Glaisnock Street Cumnock, KA18 1JP 01290 421946 Samuel Kerr 93 Glaisnock Street Cumnock, KA18 1JP 01290 429077 Dalmellington Samuel Kerr 40 Main Street Dalmellington, KA6 7DL 01292 551900 Darvel Thomas McKellar & Sons 3-5 West Main Street, Darvel KA17 0DT 01560 429239 Galston Thomas McKellar & Sons 8 Polwarth Street Galston, KA4 8HG 01563 624025 Hurlford Kilmarnock & District Independent 4 Mauchline Road Hurlford, KA1 5BZ 01563 551500 Kilmarnock Ayrshire Simple Funerals 2 Montgomery Place Kilmarnock, KA3 1JB 01563 535222 Co-operative Funeral Care (Kilmarnock) 118 John Finnie Street Kilmarnock, KA1 1BB 01563 521557 Fosters 96 - 106 Portland Street Kilmarnock, KA3 1AA 01563 608108
Funeral
17 Kilmarnock & District Independent The Old High Kirk, Church Street KA3 1AA 01563 543122 Portland Funeral Service 6 Union Street Kilmarnock, KA3 1AW 01563 534103 Thomas McKellar & Sons 96 Titchfield Street Kilmarnock, KA1 1PH 01563 572565 Mauchline Wilson & Drury 11 Kilmarnock Road Mauchline, KA5 5DB 01290 518282 Newmilns James Dykes 85 Main Street, Newmilns, KA16 9DG 01560 318058 New Cumnock Alexander Muir 7-9 Mossmark New Cumnock, KA18 4NF 01290 338248 Patna Barry Whalen 27 Dalvennan Avenue Patna, KA6 7NA 01292 531400 Stewarton Thomas McKellar & Sons 2 Main Street Stewarton, KA3 5AE 01560 485366 Funeral directors in North Ayrshire Ardrossan A & I Inglis 48 Princes Street, Ardrossan KA22 8DF 01294 537900 Beith Co-operative Funeral Care 31 Eglinton Street Beith, KA15 1AB 01505 502106 Robert Rarity 44 Main Street, Beith, KA15 2AA 01505 502323
18 Dalry Co-operative Funeral Care Robert Rarity 36 Sharon Street Dalry, KA24 5DT 23 Main Street Daltry KA24 5DP 01294 832426 01294 832830 Irvine A & I Inglis 54 Townhead Irvine, KA12 0BE 01294 277377 Balmoral Funeral Directors 21 Townhead, Irvine, KA12 0BN 01294 278777 Bennetts 64a Ayr Road Irvine, KA12 8DL 01294 273939 Co-op Funeral Care 16 Quarry Road Irvine, KA12 0TQ 01294 274671 Kevin T Blades & Son 166 High Street, Irvine, KA12 8AN 01294 313402 RB Steele 5 Ballot Road Irvine, KA12 0HW 01294 273236 Isle of Arran DB Hendry 15 Glen Avenue Brodick, KA27 8DQ 01770 302233 Kilbirnie Bennetts 7-9 Townhead, Kilbirnie, KA25 7AZ 01505 683787 Co-operative Funeral Care (DB Hendry) 55 Main Street Kilbirnie, KA25 7BX 01505 683931 Kilwinning Bennetts 4 Dalry Road Kilwinning, KA13 7HD 01505 683787 Co-operative Funeral Care 1 Station Plaza Kilwinning, KA13 6LB 01294 542651 RB Steele 44-48 Byres Road Kilwinning, KA13 6JU 01294 552565
19 Largs Campbell Smith 34 Castle Park Drive Largs, KA29 0DG 01475 568435 Paul Stevenson 3 Lade Street Largs, KA30 8AZ 01475 670555 Robert Rarity 39-41 Wilson Street Largs, KA30 9AQ 01475 670031 William Tyre 7/11 Gallowgate Lane Largs, KA30 8BE 01475 673133 Saltcoats AW Blair 2 Seabank Street Saltcoats, KA21 5JF 01294 468238 Co-operative Funeral Care 16 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats, KA21 5DS 01294 469836 Paul Stevenson 29 Chapelwell Street Saltcoats, KA21 5EB 01294 607001 West Kilbride William Wallace & Son 2 Hunterston Road West Kilbride, KA23 9EX 01294 822114 Funeral directors in Bute D McKellar 71 High Street Rothesay, PA20 9AU 01700 502751
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directors in South Ayrshire Ayr Armours Funeral Service 99 Main Street Ayr, KA8 8BU 01292 286113 Barry Whalen 3 River Terrace Ayr, KA8 0BJ 01292 611148 Co-operative Funeral Care 7 Crown Street Ayr, KA8 8BY 01292 264149 Fosters 2-6 Burns Statue Square Ayr, KA7 1UP 0800 121 8090 M L Williams 1b Falkland Park Road Ayr, KA8 8LL 01292 427 465 Peter Wilson & Sons 79 Prestwick Road Ayr, KA8 8LH 01292 265305 Dailly A McWhirter & Sons Loanen Lea, Dailly, KA26 9SH 01465 811232 Girvan Co-operative Funeral Care 10-12 Darymple Street Girvan, KA26 9AE 01465 712361 J & J Lindsay 115-117 Wilson Street Girvan, KA26 9AR 01465 712145 Maybole Co-operative Funeral Care 41 Cassillis Road Maybole, KA19 7HF 01655 882127 Prestwick Bennetts 64 Main Street Prestwick, KA9 1NX 01292 477800 Co-operative Funeral Care 1 St Quivox Road Prestwick, KA9 1LJ 01292 476604
Funeral
21 Funeral directors in Dumfries & Galloway Annan J & A Hodgson 134 High Street Annan, DG12 6DP 01461 205920 K. D. Henderson Watch-Hill Chapel of Rest, Carlisle Road, Annan, DG12 6QR 01461 280 997 Nicholsons Funeral Directors 33 High Street, Annan, DG12 6AD 01461 759214 Castle Douglas Ian Bendall New Market Street Castle Douglas, DG7 1HY 01556 503713 Dalbeattie DG Lockhart 66 High Street Dalbeattie, DG5 4AA 01556 610108 Ian Bendall 64 High Street Dalbeattie, DG5 4AA 01556 611807 Dumfries Jardine 3 Crowns Court Dumfries, DG1 1HU 01387 253518 John Pagan & Son 104 Annan Road Dumfries, DG1 3EQ 01387 254016 Tranquility Funerals 51 Glasgow Street, Dumfries, DG2 9AG 01387 266506 Troon Armours Funeral Service 33 Templehill Troon, KA10 6BQ 01292 311800 Co-operative Funeral Care 51-53 Templehill Troon, KA10 6BQ 01292 317077 Templehill Funeral Service 115 Templehill Troon, KA10 6BQ 01292 316164
Kelloholm Alexander Muir Funeral Directors Birkburn Road, Kelloholm, DG4 6SF 01659 66018 Kirkcudbright Osborne 41 Castle Street Kirkcudbright DG6 4JO 01557 330441 Lochmaben Annadale Funeral Directors 26 Queen Street, Lochmaben, DG11 1PP 01387 811 994 Lockerbie Annadale Funeral Directors 98 High St, Lockerbie DG11 2ES 01576 204 600 Mochrum Ian Broll 15 Main Street Mochrum, DG8 9LY 01988 616298 Moffatt Moffat Funeral Services 9-10 Ball Play Road, Home Industrial Estate, Moffatt, DG10 9JU 01683 220117 Newton Stewart Ian Broll 8 Arthur Street Newton Stewart, DG8 6DE 01988 616298 Alex McCleary 73 Queen Street Newton Steward, DG8 6JR 01671 402812 Sanquhar Campbell Funeral Directors 95 - 105 High Street Sanquhar, DG4 6DT 01659 58147 22
Stranraer Frazer Hare 50 High Street Stranraer, DG9 7LP 01776 703058 John McNeil Mansewood Dalrymple Street Stranraer, DG9 7ER 01776 702118 Thornhill A & A Harkness Pringleton, Penpont, Thornhill DG3 4BJ 07742 717076 23
Registrars’ Offices in Ayrshire, Arran and Bute
Remember you need to make an appointment to register a death. At the time of writing, registration appointments are by telephone.
Registrars’ Offices in East Ayrshire
Registrars’ Offices in North Ayrshire
Cumnock Rothesay House 1 Greenholm Road Cumnock KA18 1LH 01563 576695/6 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 5pm Fri: 9am – 4pm Kilmarnock Burns Monument Centre, Kay Park Kilmarnock KA3 7RU 01563 576695/6 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 5pm Fri: 9am – 4pm
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Irvine Customer Service Centre Bridgegate House Irvine KA12 8BD 01294 310000 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4.45pm Fri: 9am – 4.30pm Isle of Arran Council Offices Lamlash Isle of Arran KA27 8JY 01770 600338 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4.45pm Fri: 9am – 4.30pm Kilbirnie Kilbirnie Branch Library Avils Place Kilbirnie KA25 6BL 01294 310000 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4.45pm Fri: 9am – 4.30pm Largs Brooksby Medical and Resource Centre 31 Brisbane Road Largs KA30 8LH 01294 310000 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4.45pm Fri: 9am – 4.30pm
Registrars’ Offices in South Ayrshire Ayr 5-9 High Street Ayr KA7 1LU 01292 617617 Mon, Tues and Thurs 8.45am – 4.45pm Wed 10am – 4.45pm Fri 8.45am – 4pm Closed for lunch: 12.30pm – 1.30pm Girvan Council Offices 17-19 Knockcushan Street Girvan KA26 9AQ 01292 617617 Tues morning 8.45am – 12pm Fri 8.45am – 4pm Closed for lunch: 12.30pm – 1.30pm 25 Saltcoats Saltcoats Town Hall Countess Street Saltcoats KA21 5HE 01294 310000 Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4.45pm Fri: 9am – 4.30pm Registrars’ Offices in Isle of Bute Rothesay Office Council Offices, Mount Pleasant Road, Rothesay, PA20 9HQ 01546 605521 (Option 8)
Registrars’ Offices in Dumfries and Galloway
Remember you need to make an appointment to register a death. You can also find details in the telephone book. Not all offices are open full time.
Registrars’ Offices in Dumfries and Galloway
Annan Castle Douglas Dalbeattie Dumfries
Gretna Kirkconnel
Kirkcudbright Langholm
Lockerbie Moffat Newton Stewart Port William
Sanquhar Stranraer Thornhill Whithorn
Wigtown
Contact details of two main offices
Dumfries Office Municipal Chambers Buccleuch Street, Dumfries DG1 2AD 030 33 33 3000 Stranraer North Strand Street Dumfries, DG9 7LD 030 33 33 3000 26
Checklist of who to tell about the death
Bank, building society or insurance companies
Lawyer
Landlord or housing provider
Employer or Trades Union
Pension provider
Utility suppliers
Telephone provider
Family doctor (GP), dentist, optician
Other health / social services
Unused medicines
Clubs and associations
Libraries
Blue Badge
Bus / rail travel companies
Passport Agency
If in rented accommodation
Cancel future appointments
Uplift equipment or cancel services no longer required
Return to community pharmacist
Cancel membership
Return any books, cancel membership
Return to Social Work Department
Cancel pass
Return passport
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Ways to help someone who has been bereaved
• Be present and attentive to the bereaved person.
• Allow for moments of silence and reflection.
• Listen in a non-judgemental and accepting way.
• Avoid the use of clichés such as ‘Think of all the good times’, ‘You can always have another child’.
• Mention the deceased person’s name and encourage the bereaved person to talk about them.
• Offer practical and emotional support, for example, by looking after children or cooking a meal.
• Understanding that tears are normal and a healthy part of the grieving process.
• Don’t try to fill in conversations with a lot of outside news.
• Remember that grief may take years to work through.
• Acknowledge anniversaries and dates of significance for the bereaved person.
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Local and national services and resources
These are some websites which provide support in bereavement.
NHS inform Bereavement Zone
www.nhsinform.scot/ bereavement
The Bereavement Zone can help you find answers to your questions and guide you through the early days of your bereavement. It can also help you understand more of the experience of loss in the days that lie ahead.
Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief
www.goodlifedeathgrief.org.uk
Telephone: 0131 272 2735
Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief is working to make Scotland a place where there is more openness about death, dying and bereavement so that:
• People are aware of ways to live with death, dying and bereavement.
• People feel better equipped to support each other through the difficult times that can come with death, dying and bereavement.
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
PETAL - People Experiencing Trauma and Loss
www.crusescotland.org.uk
www.petalsupport.com
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SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
Calman Cancer Support Centre
Maggie’s Centres
Bereavement Support
Miscarriage Association
Sudden - Supporting people after sudden death
SANDS Stillbirth and neonatal death charity
The Compassionate Friends - Dealing with the death of a child
British Heart Foundation
Bereavement Support
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS)
Winston’s Wish - the charity for bereaved children
Child Bereavement UK
www.uksobs.org
www.samh.org.uk
www.cancersupportscotland.org
www.maggiescentres.org
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
www.suddendeath.org
www.sands.org.uk
www.tcf.org.uk
www.bhf.org.uk/information support/publications/caring-andbereavement-publications
www.chas.org.uk
www.winstonswish.org
www.childbereavement.org
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The Hospital would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services o ering their help at this time.
Whilst the Hospital is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide.
It is distressing to deal with a bereavement and unsolicited mail can be insensitive and destructive during a grieving process.
By scanning the below QR code on your phone or visiting www.stopmail.co.uk, we are able to securely share this information with mailing organisations and under the Data Protection Act the information will not be used for any other purpose.
Other benefits reduce the possibility of identity fraud, such as assumed identity and you will only have to supply the information once.
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This publication has been jointly developed between ourselves and the hospital. We hope that it has been or will be of help at this time and we welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have.
Please contact us either by phone, email or by post. 01253
832400
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