​Chard Funeral Home: 01460 66100 ​Ilminster Funeral Home: 01460 929100

Est. 2011 | Providing 24 Hour Professional Care

​Chard Funeral Home: 01460 66100 ​Ilminster Funeral Home: 01460 929100

Est. 2011 | Providing 24 Hour Professional Care

​Chard Funeral Home: 01460 66100 ​Ilminster Funeral Home: 01460 929100

Est. 2011Providing 24 Hour Professional Care

B.Gibbs Remembrance Christmas Tree. CLICK HERE for more information.

​Chard Funeral Home: 01460 66100 ​Ilminster Funeral Home: 01460 929100

Est. 2011Providing 24 Hour Professional Care

B.Gibbs Remembrance Christmas Tree. CLICK HERE for more information.

What to do when someone dies

Whilst the Funeral can usually only take place once the death has been registered, you can contact us as soon as your loved one has passed away.

Registering A Death

Following the death of your loved one, Somerset Medical Examiners Service (SMES) will be informed by the doctor who will be completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). The duty Medical Examiner will review your loved one’s records and they, or one of their officers, will then contact you. This will be a routine call which will give you the opportunity to discuss the care and treatment your loved one has received and share any feedback you may have. You will have 5 days from when the ME sends the MCCD direct to the registrars to make an appointment to register a death.
Ideally, a death should be registered at a registration office in the district it occurred. However, for those who do not live nearby it is possible to register in another area by ‘declaration’. This process can take a few extra days than usual, and we can help you through the necessary steps, should this be your wish.
For your appointment the registrar will require from you the following information:• the full name of the person (including any previous surnames) and their last address• date and place of death• the person's date and place of birth• Marital Status• the person's occupation and, in the case of a woman who was married or widowed, full name and occupation of her husband• if the person was still married, the date of birth of their husband or wife• whether the person was receiving a pension or other social security benefits• National Insurance Number• NHS Number

Death Certificate

The death certificate (certified copy of entry) is a copy of the entry made by the registrar in the death register. This certificate is needed to deal with money or property left by the person who has died, including dealing with the will. You may need several copies of the certificate, for which there will be a charge per copy. The cost of the Certificate is £12.50 a copy, additional copies can be requested at a later if required for the same fee.

Tell Us Once

The Registrar will commence the Tell us Once process for you.
They will provide you with a pack containing the certificates along with the unique login details and passcode required to complete Tell us Once.

You must complete this within 28 days of receiving the login information.
If you are unable to use a computer, you can telephone for assistance.

The information you will require is as follows:
Passport number
Driving licence number
Vehicle registration numbers
Local council services (benefits etc)
State pension information
Armed forces pension information (if applicable)

The Coroner

A coroner is a doctor or lawyer appointed by a local authority to investigate certain deaths. A coroner is completely independent of the authority.
In some circumstances, such as a sudden death or when the Doctor is unable to complete an MCCD, the Coroner may require a review of the circumstances. In which case different procedural requirements and registration procedures will be necessary.
If the death has been referred to a Coroner and a post-mortem examination has established that the death is due to natural causes, the Coroners Officer will arrange for the necessary forms to be sent to the Registrar’s Office before you attend.
Should the Coroner find the death was not due to natural causes, then an inquest would be held to establish:• The identity of the deceased• When, where and how the death occurred• The cause of death
Usually, an inquest will be opened and adjourned to allow the funeral service to take place. Once all relevant facts have been established the inquest will be reopened. During this time the coroner will issue to the funeral director, the necessary forms for burial or cremation. It is normal for the Coroner’s office to send an interim death certificate to the family for bank and insurance purposes.
We understand that a sudden death together with the Coroners involvement can be distressing and we will on your behalf, liaise with theCoroner’s Office at all stages to keep you informed.

"The fact that Bob had planned his burial and thanksgiving service made it a pleasure for us to fulfil his wishes".