We have put together a checklist of ‘must do’s’ following a death
For an expected home death, arrange Verification of Death by a doctor or nurse before any medical equipment is removed and the body is moved
Certification of Death by doctor - MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF DEATH (MCCD). This MCCD will be sent electronically to the Registrars on your behalf by the Medical Examiner. Faith burials can be registered after burial but the Registrars will still need the MCCD to do so as it has to be checked before the ‘Green’ can be issued
The Medical Examiner Office will advise you that the MCCD has been sent to Kingston Register Office. The office contacts the named informant once the MCCD has been received and advises they are able to book an appt.
Registration of Death must be within 5 days from the date of opening the MCCD by a Registrar
Obtain the Registrar's ‘Green Certificate’ in order to arrange a burial or cremation - this is the certificate of registration of death. The Registrar will email the document to your chosen funeral director or cemetery or crematorium if you are not using a funeral director
Obtain a certified Copy of the entry in the Register of Deaths - a copy of the death certificate is issued at a cost of £12.50 per certificate (this is a statutory fee)
A Registrar will give you a unique ‘Tell us Once’ (TuO) reference number. This service notifies all relevant GOV.UK agencies of the death on your behalf. You can use the service online or by phone. A Registrar will give you a number to call which will include a video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users and Relay UK instructions if you cannot hear or speak on the phone. You must use this service within 28 days of receiving your unique reference number
Even when using the Tell us Once service it is advisable to telephone appropriate pensions, benefits and tax offices as soon as possible to avoid inadvertent overpayment of pensions, benefits and tax credits