When the death occurs in hospital
Unless present when death occurs, the relatives will be notified by the nursing staff as soon as possible. Arrangements can then be made with the Hospital Patient Affairs office staff to deal with the formalities. These will include collecting the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (issued by a Hospital Doctor) and personal possessions of the deceased. The Hospital may also issue a 'Release Form', which needs to signed by the next of kin, releasing the deceased into our care.
When the death occurs at home
If the death was expected, as the deceased had been ill for some time, it would be normal to contact their Doctor or the on call Doctor who would then visit to certify that death had occurred and determine the cause of death. This may not happen immediately as the Doctor may be in his/her surgery or the death may happen in the middle of the night in which case you may decide to wait until morning before calling out the Doctor.
Later that day or the next, the Doctor will issue the relatives a form called the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This contains a list of who can register the death, known as Informants, at the local Registry Office and what information the Registrar will require. For the details of the Bury St. Edmunds registrars office click here.
If you are uncertain whether someone has passed away then call the Doctor or dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. If the cause of death cannot be determined then the Doctor will refer the death to the coroner.
If the death occurs in another area
If death occurs away from home then the initial formalities listed above will be completed by the Doctor or Hospital staff in that area. If relatives wish to bring the deceased home for the funeral then the arrangements in both areas, including transport, can be taken care of by ourselves. Should death occur abroad then our staff can advise accordingly as to what options are available.
How to Register a Death
Who can register?
1. A close relative of deceased
2. A relative in attendance during last illness
3. A relative living in the district where death occurred
4. A person present at death
5. The person arranging the funeral
Documents required
1. Medical Certificate of Death (from Dr's or hospital/hospice)
2. Medical Card if available, or
3. Birth Certificate & information regarding date of birth
Information required to Registrar
1. Date and place of death
2. Full name of deceased (maiden name if applicable)
3. Date and place of birth
4. Occupation and home address
5. If married, full name and occupation of spouse.
Certificates
1. Disposal Certificate (green form) for the funeral director
2. Social Security Certificate (white form) to be handed in at the D.S.S. Offices with any pension books
3. Copies of Entry of Death (death certificate) for bank, insurance, solicitors.
N.B. You have to make an appointment with the registrars.
For the details of the Bury St. Edmunds registrars office click here.
It is worth getting a few copies of the death certificate from the registrars when you are there. If you run out you will have to make another appointment to get some more.
Wednesday 17 December 2008
Monday 15 December 2008
Nick On Radio Suffolk Today
Nick was on Radio Suffolk today commenting on the story below about scattering ashes.
You can listen to the interview along with others on our web site at:-
http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/Radio.html
Where can't you put human ashes?
The ashes of Hunter S Thompson had a colourful send-off
Keith Richards joked that he snorted his father's ashes. So can you put cremains anywhere you like?
A green field, a favourite hilltop or a football pitch.
Across the UK, the remains of loved ones are being discreetly scattered in private ceremonies, usually in a beauty spot with some personal meaning to the deceased.
But up a son's nose? Keith Richards' drug-taking past has been well-documented but his apparent admission that he snorted his father's ashes gave his reputation for excess a new dimension. His agent later said the guitarist had been joking.
So are there any places out of bounds to mourners?
There are no banned areas enshrined in law, and that includes the nostrils, says a spokesman at the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
"There's nothing in the Cremation Act 1930 to restrict people in disposing of the ashes," he says.
"There are physical environmental concerns, so if someone dies and his house is under new ownership and his loved ones spread the ashes on the vegetable patch, there would be an issue.
"But that comes under the same legislation as if litter was thrown on someone's property."
People can deposit them where they wish, says Leonie Kellaher, a professor of anthropology who is working on a study of the scattering of ashes.
"But there are warnings about not putting them on private land without the owner's permission, and people are expected to be 'sensitive'. But no-one is watching, or censoring this activity with ashes."
Some clergy are opposed to the remains being divided up among family members, she adds.
And although not backed by legislation, some popular locations have moved to warn bereaved relatives off their sites.
Last year, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland said the soil on some of the summits was being damaged.
And boaters who cruise along the River Soar in Leicestershire have said if mourners continue to sprinkle ashes in the water - particularly popular among Hindu and Sikh mourners - the river will become unusable.
Some football clubs have opened special memorial gardens for the ashes of fans, to stop the pitch being used.
Tighter regulations exist in other parts of northern Europe, says Prof Kellaher. And there are some EU rules restricting scattering in the sea, especially along the North Sea coast.
The scattering of ashes is a relatively recent phenomenon. In the 1970s, only about 12% of ashes were taken away by loved ones, the rest staying at the crematorium. But by 2005 that had risen to nearly 60%.
Over that time cremations have risen sharply, but the figure is now pretty steady at about 70%.
Most are buried or scattered in a garden at the crematorium but personal ceremonies are becoming more off-beat as people think ahead to plan their own funerals.
The ashes of gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson were put in fireworks and launched from a 150ft tower in Colorado. And in 1997 the remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were fired into outer space aboard a Spanish research satellite due to orbit the Earth for six years.
It's even possible to get a loved one's remains made into a diamond, or even a vase, says Caron Staley of the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
"People are talking a little bit more about it and TV programmes like Six Feet Under and Desperate Housewives means it's more in the minds of people."
You can listen to the interview along with others on our web site at:-
http://www.funeralhelp.co.uk/Radio.html
Where can't you put human ashes?
The ashes of Hunter S Thompson had a colourful send-off
Keith Richards joked that he snorted his father's ashes. So can you put cremains anywhere you like?
A green field, a favourite hilltop or a football pitch.
Across the UK, the remains of loved ones are being discreetly scattered in private ceremonies, usually in a beauty spot with some personal meaning to the deceased.
But up a son's nose? Keith Richards' drug-taking past has been well-documented but his apparent admission that he snorted his father's ashes gave his reputation for excess a new dimension. His agent later said the guitarist had been joking.
So are there any places out of bounds to mourners?
There are no banned areas enshrined in law, and that includes the nostrils, says a spokesman at the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
"There's nothing in the Cremation Act 1930 to restrict people in disposing of the ashes," he says.
"There are physical environmental concerns, so if someone dies and his house is under new ownership and his loved ones spread the ashes on the vegetable patch, there would be an issue.
"But that comes under the same legislation as if litter was thrown on someone's property."
People can deposit them where they wish, says Leonie Kellaher, a professor of anthropology who is working on a study of the scattering of ashes.
"But there are warnings about not putting them on private land without the owner's permission, and people are expected to be 'sensitive'. But no-one is watching, or censoring this activity with ashes."
Some clergy are opposed to the remains being divided up among family members, she adds.
And although not backed by legislation, some popular locations have moved to warn bereaved relatives off their sites.
Last year, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland said the soil on some of the summits was being damaged.
And boaters who cruise along the River Soar in Leicestershire have said if mourners continue to sprinkle ashes in the water - particularly popular among Hindu and Sikh mourners - the river will become unusable.
Some football clubs have opened special memorial gardens for the ashes of fans, to stop the pitch being used.
Tighter regulations exist in other parts of northern Europe, says Prof Kellaher. And there are some EU rules restricting scattering in the sea, especially along the North Sea coast.
The scattering of ashes is a relatively recent phenomenon. In the 1970s, only about 12% of ashes were taken away by loved ones, the rest staying at the crematorium. But by 2005 that had risen to nearly 60%.
Over that time cremations have risen sharply, but the figure is now pretty steady at about 70%.
Most are buried or scattered in a garden at the crematorium but personal ceremonies are becoming more off-beat as people think ahead to plan their own funerals.
The ashes of gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson were put in fireworks and launched from a 150ft tower in Colorado. And in 1997 the remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were fired into outer space aboard a Spanish research satellite due to orbit the Earth for six years.
It's even possible to get a loved one's remains made into a diamond, or even a vase, says Caron Staley of the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
"People are talking a little bit more about it and TV programmes like Six Feet Under and Desperate Housewives means it's more in the minds of people."
Wednesday 3 December 2008
How to save your family a lot of upset.......in 5 minutes!!
It’s amazing to think that the majority of us leave it to our loved ones to “guess” what type of funeral we would have wanted! You would not believe the stress and heartache that this can cause the ones we leave behind……during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
I’ve lost count of the number of arguments, tears and the upset caused to families by having to make such huge decisions at this most difficult time.
A lot of this can be relieved by simply taking 5 minutes and filling out an Advance Funeral Wishes Forms.
Isn’t saving your loved ones some of the upset worth 5 minutes of your time?
You can even complete our advance wishes form on-line in the comfort of your own home giving you time to think about your send off and also involving family members if you wish.
This can be done simply via our web site at www.myfuneralwishes.co.uk
The form has been used by many people to leave wishes for the type of funeral they would like. It is popular because it saves your family having to guess about the arrangements when the time comes.
This is not a Pre-Payment plan just a Pre-Arrangement copy of your wishes, the funeral itself can be paid for at the time by your family or from your estate in the usual way.
Simply complete the form and click on the submit button at the end. When we receive your completed form we will check what your wishes are and keep the details on our files. We will then send you two free packs, one for you and one for your relatives or executor. This will give them all of the information needed when the time arises so all it takes is one phone call to us to take care of all of the arrangements.
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