Shoobridge Funeral Honiton ~ Funeral Devon ~ Funeral Services Honiton

At the Hospital
You will be given the deceased’s personal possessions. The next of kin will be asked to visit the general office at the hospital to collect all valuable property and to sign an indemnity form. You may, if you wish, ask to see the hospital Chaplain. Relatives or friends may wish to view the body at the hospital and that can be arranged but we would suggest you phone first to make the necessary arrangements.

Cause of Death
If the cause of death was quite clear, the hospital will provide you with:
• A medical certificate stating the cause of death. This will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the Registrar.
• A formal notice that states a doctor has signed the medical certificate and tells you how to register the death.
If the cause of death was not clear, or if a patient dies within 24 hours of admission, the doctor must inform the Coroner. He will then decide if a post-mortem is necessary. If the Coroner is involved you should inform your Funeral Director.

Registering a Death
A death should be registered at the Registry Office covering the district where the death occurred within five days. A list of Registrars of Deaths covering the East Devon district is given towards the end of this booklet. When you go to the Registrar, take with you
1. The Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death.
2. The deceased’s medical card, if they had one or a form of identity of the deceased, e.g.: Birth Certificate or Passport.

You must give the Registrar the following details about the deceased:
• The date and place of death.
• The full name and surname (and the maiden surname - if the deceased was a woman who had married).
• The date and place of birth.
• The occupation (and if the deceased was a married woman or a widow, the name and occupation of her husband).
• The usual address.
• Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or an allowance from public funds.
• If the deceased was married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower.

The Registrar will give you a GREEN FORM which authorises burial or cremation. You should hand that to your Funeral Director. The Registrar will also give you a Certificate of Registration of Death. This is for Social Security purposes only. Read the information on the back. If any of it applies, fill in the certificate and send or give it to your Social Security Office.
If the death is referred to the Coroner it is advisable that relatives ring the respective Registrar prior to registration. Some Registry offices are open part-time only so this will ensure that the office is open and that all necessary documentation is ready – thus avoiding unnecessary inconvenience to you.