The partners and staff of this practice wish to extend to you our sympathy and condolences in your bereavement. Although this is a time of grief and sorrow a number of matters have to be dealt with. We hope that the following information will be of help and guide you through the next few difficult days, when certain formalities must be attended to.

More detailed information can be obtained from the Social Security Handbook D49 "What to do after Death".

Funeral arrangements

It is important that you contact a funeral director as soon as possible after the death of your loved one, even before the death certificate has been issued. He will visit your home and help and advise you on the necessary arrangements.

A list of funeral directors can be in the business telephone directory or yellow pages. Do not be afraid to ask for a brochure and price list and compare prices before reaching a decision. Funerals can be expensive, take care to consider where the payment will come from. You may contact the DSS for further information on financial help available. Unless you have already done so, the funeral director will notify your local minister, priest or vicar, who should visit you to talk about the service.

Registering the death

The registration of death is done by taking the medical certificate you have received to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths local to where the death has occurred. It would be helpful to also take the deceased’s birth certificate, marriage certificate and medical card.

In Harrow you must register the death within 5 days at the following office:

Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages,
Civic Centre,
P.O. Box 36,
Station Road,
Harrow, HAl 2UX.
Tel: 020 8863 5611

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am-12.30pm, 2.00pm-4.30pm

Please allow at least 30 minutes prior to closing time.

In Hillingdon:

Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages,
Civic Centre
High Street
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1UW
01895 250766

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Information required

The registrar will require a number of details in order to complete the formalities:

• Full name of deceased
• Full address
• Gender
• Date and place of birth
• Last full time occupation of deceased
• Whether he/she was retired
• Marital status
• Date of birth of surviving partner
• Maiden name if a married woman
• NHS number, medical card
• Any state pensions, other than OAP, the deceased may have had

Forms issued by the registrar: 

1. Form 344 or BD8; this enables Social Security benefit to be claimed.
2. The Green Form; this is to be handed to the undertaker, giving permission for the burial/cremation.

It is important to contact any organisation to whom the deceased belonged as soon as possible, especially the deceased’s Bank, Insurance company, Council, Tax office. They may ask for a copy of the death certificate. Death certificates can be purchased for £2.50 per copy.

When someone dies

The death of a friend or relative may be hard to accept. Grieving is a natural process which has no time limit and may recur from time to time, often for no apparent reason or at times of anniversaries or special occasions. There are a number of organisations who can offer help, advice or support. The following are available locally:

Age Concern, 39 Sheepcote Road, HA1. Tel: 020 8863 4326

Citizens Advice Bureau, Civic Centre, Station Road, HA1 Tel: 020 8427 9443

Cruse Bereavement Care, Cruse House, 126 Sheen Road, Richmond, Surrey. Tel: 020 8332 7227

Gay Bereavement Project Tel: 020 7837 7324

N.A.B.S., Carol Lambert, 20 Norton Folgate, London, El 6DB. Tel: 020 7247 0617

The National Association of Widows. Tel: 0121 643 8348

Terence Higgins Trust Helpline: 020 7242 1010

The Samaritans Link-Up Number. Tel: 0345 909090