On this page you will find information to address some common misconceptions surrounding a recent death. If you have any questions about the below, or if you have any questions, please contact Kingston Register Office by email at registrars@kingston.gov.uk
If death is sudden, unexpected, suspicious or after discharge from hospital then it is referred to the Senior Coroner which may, but not necessarily, result in a post-mortem examination
By registering a death an Informant is not accepting responsibility for making a funeral arrangement
Usually the nearest relative registers a death, but anyone who has the necessary information can do it who was present at the death, the occupier of the house or an official from the public building where the death occurs, e.g. the hospital, the person making the funeral arrangements but not a funeral director, partner of the deceased, partner present at the death, partner in attendance or personal representative of the deceased
Permission for burial may also be issued before full registration in certain circumstances usually for urgent ‘Faith and Belief’ needs however, the MCCD (a form issued by a medical Examiner and sent electronically to the registrars) must be received first by the registrar
No-one, including “next-of-kin” has a responsibility to arrange burial or cremation of someone’s body, but they are responsible to pay for any arrangements they make to do so. The local authority has ultimate responsibility
There is no time limit after death within which someone has to be buried or cremated although a funeral can be instructed for reasons of public health
You can keep someone at home between their death and burial or cremation (no more than one week is recommended)
You can name anyone you want to arrange your funeral. There is no legal form for it – you can write it, for example, in a Will or on a signed piece of paper
Nobody actually OWNS someone’s body after they die, but the person named as the Executor in the Will of the deceased, or if there is no Will, the person most entitled to be appointed Executor, has the right to decide how their body is to be cared for. Very often, that person also happens to be the closest family member
You can transport someone’s dead body in any vehicle, as long as it is covered, you don't have to inform the Police but it is advisable to do so
Alternative funeral services are legal. You're not alone if you think there are strict legal constraints on the format and procedure for your funeral. Though many people still think they can't deviate from a 'standard funeral procedure', this simply isn't trueYou can bury someone in a garden. It is legal for you to be buried, or to bury someone in your garden if you own the land, have permission from the landowner and the land is far enough away from a water source to fulfil environment agency guidelines.
Funeral directors don't have to be involved, unless you want them to be
Ashes can be scattered anywhere you like as long as you have the landowner's permission
If a death was unexpected or involved some kind of trauma you may require specialist cleaning. Homeowners or the next of kin are responsible not the Police