Death & Dying
Where to start, what to do and who to tell when someone dies.
Registering a death
Who to
tell
Funerals &
Saying goodbye
Cemeteries &
Crematorium
Greif Support
Money
help
Registering a death
Sometimes, when a person dies, their death must be reported to the Coroner. A Coroner is a person whose job it is to find out how someone died if it is unknown. They help make sure the correct information is found and recorded.
This usually happens if:
● The cause of death is not known.
● The death happened in an unusual or unexpected way.
● The person died while being looked after by the state, such as in police custody.
If a doctor knows the cause of death, it can usually be registered without any more checks by a Coroner, but if the cause is not clear a member of the Coroner's team will contact the person's closest relative within a few days.
They will:
● Explain what the Coroner is doing to learn more about the death.
● Talk about any questions or worries the family may have.
● Help the family understand what will happen next.
The person who registers a death is called the informant. This is usually a family member, but it can sometimes be another person who knows about the death.
The informant is usually:
● A relative of the person who died
● The person's husband, wife, partner, or civil partner
● Someone who was with the person when they died
● Someone who was helping to care for them during their final illness
● A person responsible for arranging the funeral
● A friend, solicitor, or another representative of the family
● Someone who lived in or was in charge of the place where the death happened and knew about it
A Registrar is a person who keeps official records of a death.
If a coroner is involved:
● The Coroner looks into the death and decides whether more checks are needed
● When the Coroner is ready, they send the information to the Registrar
● Then a family member (or another person who is allowed to do so) registers the death at a meeting at the Registrar’s office
If a coroner is not involved:
● A doctor fills in the medical certificate showing the cause of death
● The certificate is sent to the Registrar
●A family member (or another person who is allowed to do so) registers the death at a meeting at the Registrar’s office.
The Registrars work at the Register Office which is part of St Helens Borough Council. A Registration Officer from St Helens Register Office will contact the family to arrange the appointment to register the death, which last about 30 minutes.
The registrar appointment
At the appointment, the Registrar will ask you questions about the person who has died, including:
● Their full name
● Any older names they used
● Their date and place of birth
● Their last address
● Their job or occupation
● Whether they were receiving a State Pension or other benefits
● Information about their husband/wife/civil partner, or surviving partner (if they have one)
Things to take to the meeting
If available, can you please bring the person’s:
● Birth certificate
● Marriage or civil partnership certificate
● NHS number
● Utility bill such as water, gas or electric
You should also bring along documents which will prove your identity as well such as:
● Your own passport
● Your driving licence
● A recent utility bill
● A recent bank statement
If you cannot bring any of the documents above, please still come to this appointment.
Who to tell
There is no exact order of who to tell, but usually it looks a bit like this:
● Tell family and friends
● Deal with the GP, hospital, hospice or care home
● Register the death
● Start funeral arrangements
● Use Tell Us Once Service
● Contact banks, pension providers and insurers
● Contact utility companies and other organisations
Funerals
After someone dies, there is often a lot of paperwork and jobs to do. Even if the person was very organised, there can still be many forms, phone calls, and decisions. This can feel like a lot, especially when we are sad and finding it hard to cope. Later on, many people can barely remember how they managed to do it all.
Dead Positive CIC provide information, support and advice on all aspects of death and dying, from anticipation, through preparation and all throughout the grief journey.
We have included some of their best guides here for you here.
They also run a bereavement café if you would like to go in in person, click the logo for more info and dates on their page.
Cemeteries &
Crematorium
St Helens Cemetery
Rainford Road
St Helens
WA10 6DF
St Helens Crematorium
Rainford Road
St Helens
WA10 6DF
Chapel of Remembrance
Rainford Road
St Helens
WA10 6DF
Newton-le-Willows Cemetery
Park Road South
Newton-le-Willows
WA12 8PH
Greif
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something important. This could be the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a serious illness, losing a job, or another significant life change.
Everyone experiences grief differently. There is no right or wrong way to feel, and there is no timeline for healing.
● Feeling sad or crying a lot
● Feeling angry or upset
● Feeling bad about something that happened
● Feeling worried or nervous
● Finding it hard to sleep
● Feeling cut off from other people
● Eating more or less than usual
● Finding it hard to focus or pay attention
● Wanting to be alone more often
