Loss of a person

When someone passes away, there are several people and organisations you’ll need to notify, as well as some legal documents to complete.

If you’re a relative or close friend, you may be able to handle many of these tasks yourself. Others may need to be managed by the executor or administrator of the estate.

Support is available to guide you through this difficult time.

Here are the first steps to take:

• notify the person's GP or family doctor

• contact a funeral director, if you plan to use one

• get a medical certificate showing the cause of death, signed by a doctor. If the coroner is involved, follow the instructions given by the coroner’s office

• register the death at the local Register Office

Registering a death

In most cases a medical certificate of cause of death will be issued to the next of kin, so that you can make an appointment and register the death. A death must be registered within five days once the medical examiner confirms that the death can be registered. If the death has been referred to the coroner for further investigation then there is likely to be a delay before the death can be registered.

All deaths occurring in Cornwall must be registered in Cornwall, but if it is difficult for you to get to an office in Cornwall, you may visit your local register office and declare the necessary information.

In this case the registration by declaration may result in a delay in the issue of the documents needed for the funeral arrangements. 

The Cornwall Registration Service has comprehensive information around how to register a death, including who can do it, where you can do it, and when is should happen. They also list the information you will need to provide about the person who has died.

Tell Us Once

To make things easier for you when you register a death in Cornwall, you can also choose to let the Cornwall Registration Service inform government departments and local council services through the Tell Us Once service.

These can include, if applicable:

• the Department for Work and Pensions

• HM Revenue and Customs

• Identity and Passport Services

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

• the various departments of Cornwall Council: such as housing, benefits and adult social care

You can use the Tell Us Once service direct, or via the Cornwall Registration Service. 

The Coroner

The role of the coroner is to investigate and record the causes and circumstances of all sudden deaths. This is where the cause of death is unknown, the death is violent or unnatural and any death which occurred whilst the deceased was in lawful custody. They will decide if a post mortem and/ or an inquest are needed. You may need to deal with the coroner if the person had died suddenly. This includes stillbirths, and suicides.

Arranging a funeral

A funeral is usually a combination of a person’s life and work, and committing them to rest. The person who has died may have left specific instructions regarding their funeral or burial arrangements, or have discussed their wishes.

There are details of the options you may wish to consider, and how to go about making arrangements, in the Bereavement Guide provided by the Registration Service. 

Wills and probate

A person’s will describes how they wish their belongings (known as their estate) to be handled after their death. Their solicitor will have a copy, and so will the executor (the person who is responsible for making sure the will is carried out).

If the person did not leave a will, the most ‘entitled’ person can apply to become the administrator of the estate. This is the closest living relative - normally the husband, wife or civil partner (including if you were separated) followed by any children 18 or over (including legally adopted children but not step-children).

You can find out more about wills and probate (managing the deceased person’s estate) on the Gov UK website.

• inheritance tax

• pension payments, including a possible lump sum payout to cover funeral costs

• life insurance or other payouts

Items that may need to be returned

The Registration Service’s Bereavement Guide contains a list of items or paperwork that should be returned, including:

• books, payable orders, etc relating to benefits

• Passport

• Driving license

• Registration document for the car, whether it is sold or passed to another family member

• Season tickets

• Bus passes

• Blue badges

• National Insurance papers

• Library books and tickets

If the person who has died had any loaned medical or social care equipment, then that needs to be returned. This could include beds, chairs, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, hearing aids, or other loaned equipment. Any equipment that was loaned to them will have details of who to contact to return it. 

People or organisations who may need to be informed

 The Tell us Once service will take care of information for:

• HMRC

• Department for Work and Pensions

• DVLA

• Passport Office

• Cornwall Council departments

• other Government departments

It will also inform some public sector pension schemes, but there are still other organisations which need to be informed:

• banks and building societies

• mortgage provider. housing association or landlord

• pension schemes

• employer

• insurance providers

• GP, hospital and any other care provider

• utilities providers

• Post Office, so mail can be redirected if necessary

You will need to contact Adult Social Care, so they can take care of cancelling any services the person was receiving through them, and begin tying up any financial arrangements that they may have had. 

If the person who died was a carer, then you need to contact them quickly, to arrange alternative support for the person they cared for.

Carers

If the person who died was a carer, the person or people they cared for may need urgent help from Adult Social Care.

You should contact them on 0300 1234 131 to see if alternative arrangements can be made.

If children are left without a parent to take care of them, immediate steps need to be taken to ensure that they are cared for. If at all possible, children in these circumstances would be placed with family or friends in the short term. This would be managed by Together for Families. 

Bereavement payments

Financial support is available in some cases, to support people after the death of a close family member.

A bereavement support payment is a £2,000 lump sum to help you at the time of your husband, wife or civil partner’s death. This is available for people below state pension age, if their partner made enough NI contributions. 

A Funeral expenses payment is intended to help you pay for a funeral if you are on a low income. Your entitlement to other benefits may change after a death, especially if you are bringing up children alone. 

Support organisations

Below are listed a selection of the many support organisations that exist. We have listed those which support adults, rather than children, and which offer general advice. There is no longer a specific LGBTQ bereavement helpline, but many general counselling organisations offer LGBTQ specialist services. Children’s services are listed in the general Registration Service Bereavement guide