If someone dies in their own home or yours or a nursing or residential home then their G.P or the doctor who was last in attendance should be contacted.  If the doctor has recently seen the deceased (by law within the last fourteen days) and if the death was expected and due to natural causes then the doctor will now in most cases instruct the informant to contact the funeral director of choice and will NOT attend to certify the death.

If this happens then call me at any time 01304 201322, whilst not medically qualified to certificate the fact of death I can confirm with various professional tests whether the person has definitely passed on.  I will bring the necessary equipment and staff to facilitate the removal back to my premises at 12 Beaconsfield Road and can be with you usually within the hour - every day.

If the death is sudden, unexpected, accidental, due to an industrial disease, due to suicide or violence then the police should be called who in turn will call the coroners office and they will explain what will happen (see coroners section).

If someone dies in a hospital or hospice they will be removed to their own mortuary (or another local mortuary).  Then the next working day the relative support officer or patients clerk or administrator will contact the last attending medical practitioner to establish if they can issue an acceptable  medical certificate of cause of death.  You should therefore contact the relevant office (please call me for the number) and wait to be told if and when you can collect the doctors certificate.

Registration Of Death

Once you have collected the medical certificate of cause of death (the doctors death certificate) from either the hospital, hospice or surgery you can then make an appointment to register the death. The number you need to call is 0845 8247400 and lines are open everyday except bank holidays, between 8am and 8pm.  If you need to speak to a registrar it is the same number but they are available only on weekdays between 9am and 5pm (exc. bank holidays).

Deaths in Kent can now be registered at ANY of the registrars offices in Kent but you must ring for an appointment.  Take to the registrar the “Medical certificate of cause of death” (The doctors certificate) and also the deceased’s medical card if available.  You do not need to take birth and marriage certificates as long as you know the details contained on these.

The Registrar Will Require The Following Information:

1 - the deceased’s full name and address.
2 - If the person has died was a married woman or widow, her maiden surname and the full names and occupation of her husband.
3 - Date and place of birth.
4 - Occupation and usual residence
5 - If the deceased was in receipt of any public pension or funds.

A death should be registered within five days.  Of course this is not always possible if the coroner is involved or if no one is available to do so.  Registration of a death by ‘declaration’ for informants not residing in the registration district and unable to travel is possible, although this should be discussed with the local registrar and will lead to a delay in the funeral arrangements.

Persons Qualified To Register A Death:

1 - A relative of the deceased, present at death.
2 - A relative of the deceased, in attendance during the last illness.
3 - A relative of the deceased, residing or being in the sub-district where the death occurred.
4 - A person present at the death.
5 - The occupier (e.g. owner, governor, master or matron) if they knew of the happening of the death.
6 - Any inmate if they knew of the happening of the death.
7 - The person causing the disposal of the body (e.g. the person responsible for the funeral arrangements and payment of the account).

Once you have registered the death you will be given a form to complete and send with any pension books and “Certified copies of an entry of Death” (the death certificate).  You can have as many as you need and the registrar is best to advise you, please note there is a fee to pay, currently £3.50 EACH.  You will also be given a GREEN CERTIFICATE and this is the one you need to give to me so I can  forward it to the crematorium, vicar or cemetery’s office.  I have available free maps for all of the Kent registrars and other information regarding benefits, pensions and probate.  Please just ask, 01304 201322.

Doctors Cremation Certificates

When cremation is chosen (and the coroner is not involved) there are statutory legal forms, known as the cremation certificates, that need to be completed by two medical practitioners.  These forms are the funeral directors  responsibility to organise and therefore we will liaise with the necessary office/doctors to have these completed and collected. Please note that we cannot collect the deceased from a hospital or hospice until these are completed and this can sometimes take several days.

Deaths Reported To The Coroner

In most cases a post-mortem examination will need to be carried out and there will be two possible outcomes.  The first and most usual will confirm that the deceased has died of a natural cause; the coroner will then release the deceased and issue the relevant paperwork to the registrars, crematorium or funeral director.  If the death is found to be not from a natural cause then an inquest will be opened and the coroner will normally require a formal identification of the deceased by a relative.  If any one is to be prosecuted for the death then usually there will be a second post mortem carried out for the defence.  Funeral arrangements should not be finalised until the coroner gives permission, although when a date for the post mortem has been confirmed a provisional funeral booking can usually be made.  In all cases one of the coroners officers should keep you informed of what  is happening and when it is happening.  If an inquest is necessary this will be opened and then adjourned so that further investigations and enquiry’s can take place. The deceased will be released so that the funeral can take place.

Registration Of A Coroners Death

To register a coroners death (non-inquest) you should telephone the registrars 0845 8247400 the day after the post mortem to see if they have received the paperwork from the coroner.  This replaces the doctors death certificate.  If they have received the forms then you can make an appointment to go and register the death - you will not need any paperwork from the doctor.  If the funeral is a cremation then you do not have to register the death before the funeral as the coroner sends another certificate directly to the crematorium (or funeral director) which allows the funeral  to take place.  You should however register the death as soon as possible.  If the funeral is a burial then you MUST register the death before the funeral and you will be given a green certificate which you should give to us.

If the coroner opens an inquest into the death then you will not be able to register the death until after the inquest has taken place and a verdict recorded (this may take months).  In these cases the coroner will issue you an ‘Interim Death Certificate’ and to us either a cremation certificate or burial order which allows the funeral to take place.  The interim death certificate should be presented where necessary to any banks, solicitors etc and if you have any problems you should refer them directly to the coroner.

Deaths Occurring In Another Country

All deaths of UK citizens occurring in another country and when the deceased is to be returned to the UK are now reported to the coroner into whose jurisdiction the deceased will be brought.  The same procedure then applies as previously described although the difference being that you cannot register the death in this country.  You can apply for a consular death certificate and this will be in English.  Please ask me for an application form but please note there is a fee to pay for this and it can be a lengthy procedure.

Making The Funeral Arrangements

Please take your time in deciding on what type of funeral you would like and do not hesitate to ask for any advice about anything.  Please take a look at my  costs page.  I believe I have catered for everyone although each funeral can be altered or added to in any way.  Our office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday-Friday (exc. Bank holidays) but the phone is always answered at other times and we promise that you will always receive a personal response.  Once you have decided on burial or cremation and where you would like the funeral to take place please give me a call 01304 201322 and I will confirm as soon as possible a mutually convenient date and time for the funeral.  Please remember that along with our diary commitments, the crematorium or cemetery may already have bookings and vicars/ministers have their diary commitments as well.  We will always do our best to accommodate your wishes but some flexibility is appreciated.

All other details and forms for the funeral can be discussed and completed at your convenience either in our office here at 12 Beaconsfield Road, Dover, or in the comfort of your own home at no extra charge.  Please remember that cremation and cemetery forms need completing as soon as possible so we can forward them in time for the funeral.  If you would like a FREE home visit please do not hesitate to ask, call Paul any time 01304 201322.

Once arranged you will be given an immediate verbal estimate of the total cost of the funeral. I will confirm this in writing asap along with details of the funeral arrangements. Any changes or alterations can be made at any time and I promise an extremely respectful and professional service.


“I am here to personally guide you through all the of the steps & information I have written. There are many other issues and problems that may arise so please do not hesitate to call me for my qualified and compassionate help, whenever you need it..”

Paul Sullivan LMBIFD 01304 201322