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A doctor will need to certify the death.  This can be the person’s registered GP or the Doctor on duty.  You may need to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) from the GP’s surgery.

After someone has died at home, you can spend time with them, if you want to.  You may want to play music and light a candle.  There is no rush.  Whenever you are ready, you can call us on 07879-220046 and we will bring the person who has died into our care, once the death has been certified. Our staff are fully trained in order to handle this difficult event with care and respect. You are always welcome to visit our Chapel of Rest at a later date.

If the death was expected, the GP will provide a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) which you will need to register the death.

A doctor will need to certify the death. This can be the person’s registered GP or the Doctor on duty.  Once the Doctor has been to see the person, the nursing home may want us to collect them straight away, with your permission. 

The nursing home will advise you where to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). 

If the death was expected, the GP will provide a medical certificate showing the cause of death, which you will need to register the death.

A doctor will need to certify the death. This can be the person’s registered GP or the Doctor on duty, and they will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

Once the Doctor has been to see the person, you will liaise with the bereavement team who will offer practical and emotional support. The person who has died will often be cared for in the mortuary at the hospital or hospice until a funeral director is appointed or arrangements made.  If you appoint us as your funeral director, we will be able to call the hospital or hospice and make the necessary arrangements to bring the person who has died into our care once the death has been certified.

A small number of deaths have to be reported to the Coroner before they can be registered, for example:

• Where there is no doctor who can issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• If the person who has died hasn’t seen their GP in the last 14 days before death
• The cause of death is unknown
• The cause of death is believed to be unnatural or suspicious
• The cause of death is believed to be due to an industrial disease or poisoning
• The death occurred during an operation or before recovery from an anaesthetic
  

The Registrar will wait for the Coroner to decide whether a post-mortem or inquest needs to be carried out before the registration of the death can proceed.

This may take some time, so it’s a good idea to speak to us, so we can arrange with the Coroner and make provisional arrangements for the funeral. However, we will not be able to confirm a date or time until the Coroner has finished their investigations.

If the person who has died during the day, then the GP or duty doctor will attend to verify the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.   

If someone has died at home unexpectedly, the emergency services must be involved. They will contact the local coroner who may wish to investigate the cause of death.  The Coroner will arrange for a local funeral director to collect the person who has died and to bring them into their care.  This doesn’t have to be the funeral directors that you use to plan and conduct the funeral, that its your choice. If that happens, then you simply let the funeral directors know and they liaise between them.

If the person who has died is at home during the night or when the GP isn’t available if out of hours, you need to call the NHS helpline 111 and an on-call doctor or senior nurse can verify the death for you.

We are here to help and advise at any time of day or night

These usually happens to establish why the person has died, so an investigation takes place, and the Coroner has to establish all the facts before the death certificate can be issued. They will ask various questions and come to a conclusion.

When someone dies, the doctor will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to the relatives.  The person (typically next of kin or relative) who will be registering the death must take this certificate to the Registrar’s Office.

By law you must register the death within five days of the death in England or Wales (unless the death has been referred to the Coroner), and at the Registry Office in the area where the deceased died - for Taunton and the surrounding areas this comes under the Somerset Registration Services -to book an appointment with them ring 01823 282251

You make an appointment to see the Registrar. Due to space restrictions, it is likely only one person can attend the Registrar’s office unless it is essential to be accompanied. To ensure you take all the relevant information and paperwork with you, click here to see what you need.  During your meeting with the Registrar (typically you are allocated up to 45 minutes), they will check the documentation you bring, ask if you are intending a crematorium or burial, which funeral director you are appointing, then if everything is in order they will enter the death onto the register and issue you with a death certificate (you will need to take some money with you to purchase copies of the death certificate(s) - £11 each) They will also give you information about the 'Tell Me Once' system, which is a useful process that notifies various organisations in one go without having to contact them separately -there is no charge for that process. The Registrar will give you a unique reference number to use that system which is available for up to 28 days from registering the death.

Next the Registrar will send the 'green form' to your chosen crematorium or cemetery and you can ask for a copy of that form to be sent to your funeral director.

The next stage is to liaise with your funeral director to plan the funeral, and organise collection of the person who has died to be taken into their care, if this is what you want (there isnt any law to say you have to do this as some families choose to keep their loved one at home right up until the funeral).  

Here at Amanda-Louise Funeral Services, our woman's understanding and care are here to support you every step of the way. Contact Amanda-Louise Funeral Director personally on 07879220046 or email office@amandalouisefuneralservices.co.uk

The person who will be registering the death needs to be completed by the legally responsible person, which is usually:

• the next of kin
• close relative
• or Executor of the deceased. 
  

Alternatively, it can be someone 

• who was present at the time of death
• the occupier of the premises where the death occurred
• or the person who is responsible for arranging the funeral (not a funeral director)

Take with you the following information, where appropriate, as the Registrar will require this from you:

• Date and place of death
• Full name and address of the person who has died (including maiden name if the deceased has been married)
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation
• Name and address of their husband or wife, or civil partner and the date of birth of the surviving partner
• Your name, address and your relationship to the deceased
• Whether the person who has died was in receipt of a pension from public funds
  

The Registrar enters all this information in their Death Register. It is important that the information you give to the Registrar is correct as errors can be time consuming to be altered. Remember to check all the details recorded before you sign the Death Register.

If English is not your first language of the person registering the death and assistance is required, it is a good idea for someone else to accompany that person to the Registrar’s office and act as an interpreter. But the interpreter helper cannot be the person registering the death personally.

If the death was unexpected and the Coroner is involved, as your funeral director we can provide you with more information. Contact us and we can discuss the different procedures that may need to be followed.

Take with you the following paperwork, where appropriate, as the Registrar will require his form you:

• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• National Health Medical Card
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
  

The Registrar Office has a “Tell us Once” service. To use this service, you will also need to take the person who has died current driving licence, blue badge, and passport, where appropriate.

The Registrar will give you the following:

A Green Certificate (Certificate for Burial or Cremation) – this form enables the funeral to go ahead. It may be emailed to you. We will need the green certificate for the funeral to go ahead.

A White Certificate (BD8) – this is the certified copy of the enter in the Death Register. You need this to claim any national insurance benefits. The Registrar will sell you (typically cost approx. £11 each) copies of the Certified Entry of Death (Death Certificate) – you are able to arrange for additional copies at a later date, but the fees on that separate occasion may be higher.  You may need additional copies for

• The Will or Solicitor
• Bank Accounts
• Any Pension Claims
• Insurance Policies
• Savings
• Bank Certificates
• Premium Bonds
  

A “Tell Us Once” reference number. This is for the online service to inform most government departments of the death in one go.

Here is a list of all the Somerset County Registrar offices, contact information and details of opening times. If you are in any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Amanda-Louise Funeral Director Services, and we will be happy to guide you through.

Somerset Register Office (Taunton)

Address: The Old Municipal Buildings, Corporation Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4AQ -

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Opening Hours - Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm

Parking: Disabled parking space adjacent to the office. This is accessed by driving through Castle Green and is shared with the museum. There is a ramp to reception at the rear of the building on Castle Green. The nearest public car park – Metered spaced on Corporation St, Enfield or Crescent Car Parks

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Williton Registration Office

Address: The Library, Killick Way, Williton, TA4 4PY

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 4pm

Parking: No parking on-site. Nearest public car park – Killick Way

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Minehead Registration Office

Address: The Library, Bancks Street, Minehead TA24 5DJ

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Opening hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 3pm

Parking: 1 hour on-street nearby. Nearest public car park – Summerland Place

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Bridgwater Registration Office

Address Bridgwater House, Kings Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3AR

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Opening hours  Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm

Parking Nearest public car park – Northgate

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Burnham-on-Sea Registration Office

Address: 1 Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 1EH

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours:  Tuesday 10am to 5pm, Thursday 10am to 3pm

Parking:  On-site disabled parking available, on-street general parking. Nearest public car park – Oxford Street

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Yeovil Registration Office

Address:  The Library, King George Street, Yeovil, BA20 1PY

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm

Parking: No parking on-site. Nearest public car park – Petters Way

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Frome Registration Office

Address: Frome Library, Justice Lane, Frome, BA11 1BE

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 2.30pm

‍Parking: On-street parking nearby. Nearest public car park – Cattle Market

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Chard Registration Office

Address: Chard Library, Holyrood Lace Mill, Holyrood Street, Chard, TA20 2YA

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

Opening hours: Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm

Parking: On-site disabled parking available. Nearest public car park – Boden Street

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Glastonbury Registration Office

Address: Glastonbury Library Hub, 1 Orchard Court, The Archers Way, Glastonbury, BA6 9JB

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2pm

Parking:  Disabled parking on-site. Street parking nearby. Nearest public car park – Butt Close

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Weston Super Mare Registration Office (North Somersrt)

‍Address : Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm

Parking: No parking on-site. Nearest public car park – Carlton Street

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Clevedon Registration Office (North Somerset)

Address: Castlewood, Tickenham Road, Clevedon, BS21 6FW

Tel: 01823 282251

Email:somersetregistrations@somerset.gov.uk

‍Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday 9am to 3.30pm, Thursday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm

‍Parking: On-site general and disabled parking available

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To find out where other Registry Offices are located, click here to take you to the Government’s website, or click here to read what to take with you to register the death

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If you need funeral services, why not reach out to Lady Funeral Director Amanda-Louise who will be happy to support you. Speak to Amanda-Louise on 07879-220046 for more information