Bereavement

  • In Times of Bereavement

    We are so sorry for your loss.
     
    Losing someone close to you can be difficult and can raise lots of thoughts and feelings. Everyone deals with loss differently. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time and space to process your feelings.
     
    If you are struggling to cope and need medical assistance, please make contact with us.
     
    This BANES website gives the details of local services that may help you at this time:
    Bereavement support | Live Well in Bath & North East Somerset

  • What to do after a death

    In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days;
    ·  Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
    ·  Register the death within 5 days. You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
    ·  Make the necessary funeral arrangements.

  • Register the death

    If the death has been reported to the coroner they must give permission before registering the death.
     
    You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.
    An appointment with the registrar needs to be booked via the BaNES Registrar website.

  • The government ‘Tell Us Once’ Service

    The GOV.UK tell us once service can be used after the death is registered. Tell us once will contact relevant organisations; such as the DVLA, HM Revenue and Customs, the Passport Office etc. This saves someone having to contact lots of different agencies separately.
     
    Visit What to do after someone dies: Tell Us Once – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

  • Arrange the funeral

    The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.

    Funeral directors
    Choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:
    ·  National Association of Funeral Directors
    ·  Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
     
    These organisations have codes of practice – they must give you a price list when asked.
     
    Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.
     
    Some funeral directors offer the option to put the death in a local paper, or on social media if you wish to share the funeral arrangements. Please discuss this with your chosen funeral director.



    Arranging the funeral yourself
    Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.


    Funeral costs
    Funeral costs can include:

    ·  Funeral director fees
    ·  Things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
    ·  Local authority burial or cremation fees
     
    Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.

  • Lasting Post Website

    For free independent guidance on financial considerations, help with poems or readings, etiquette for funerals or anything death related, you can find more information at: lastingpost.com

  • Citizens advice bureau

    If you need advice about complaining about a funeral, financial affairs, wills, or other things relating to the death, Citizens advice may be a good place to seek help.
     
    Visit www.citisensadvice.org.uk or telephone 0808 2787897