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What do you do if someone close to you dies?
When a member of your family who you are responsible for passes away, no matter whether it is sudden or expected, it is always traumatic.
Many people don’t have the experience of sorting out a loved one’s affairs and arranging a funeral, so where do you start?
Aurora Funerals is here to support you, every step of the way, but there are a number of things you need to be aware of, depending on the location and circumstances of their death:
Dying at home
When someone dies at home, a qualified professional (e.g. their GP, an Out-of-hours Doctor, or a Paramedic) will need to verify their death. Once they have certified the death, you are able to contact a funeral director to collect your loved one and take them into their care.
In the days following the death, the deceased’s GP will issue a certificate of the cause of death (MCCD), which you can arrange to pick up from the surgery, or they will forward directly to a central Registrar’s Office. You should then visit the Registrar’s office to register the death, which by law should be within 5 days of the death.
Dying in hospital or other Care. Hospitals or Care Homes will have a Bereavement Team who will be able to offer advice and support about what you need to do next. They will provide you with a certificate of the cause of death and advise you which Registrar’s office you should approach to register the death.
They will ask you to appoint a Funeral Director, who will liaise with them to collect the deceased and take them into their care.
What happens if the death is sudden or unexpected?
In these circumstances, the doctor who has certified the death will contact the Coroner’s Office, who may decide that a post-mortem is required. If that’s the case, there may well be a significant delay to the funeral, whilst the post-mortem proceedings take place.
How do I register the death?
Deaths should be registered in the County in which the death occurred, ideally within 5 days of death. The doctor, hospital or care home can advise which Registrar’s Office to use. To register a death in East Sussex please click here.
What happens after I’ve registered the death?
You will be issued with a Death Certificate. It’s always best to request several copies at the time of issue, as various authorities will require to see an original, rather than a copy, when you are dealing with the Estate (Banks, Insurance Companies, etc.).”
Registering the death:
To register a death in East Sussex please click here. The website will guide you through the process. A death ideally has to be registered within 5 days although that isn’t always possible. The GP or hospital bereavement office will have sent a certificate showing the cause of death, signed by a doctor.
Why choose us?
Funerals, after all, should be about celebrating and marking the life lived by the deceased – and not about wranglings with arrangements. Choosing the right Funeral Director can make all the difference.
Dawn took the decision to open Aurora Funerals so that families in Crowborough could experience what it is to experience a modern, caring and supportive funeral for their loved one. Your Bereavement Journey starts following the death of your loved one, and it can carry on for many months afterward. At Aurora Funerals we want to empower you to have the best funeral possible, to celebrate and mark the life of your loved one.
Whilst your bereavement journey may be extended, the funeral is perhaps the only opportunity to come together with family, friends and others who wish to mark and honour the life the deceased lived – and to say a final farewell.
Aurora Funerals are here to help and support you on every step of the journey – day or night.
What you can expect from Aurora
Commitment, support, efficiency and expertise are all words that Dawn lives by in her quest to provide the best possible funeral. As a truly independent funeral service, with Dawn overseeing all aspects of the funeral process, you can expect a hands-on, transparent, open-minded and passionate service from Aurora – the best that you could hope for when losing a loved one.
Rather than dictate, we will listen to you, respect your views and wishes, and commit to supporting you from the outset until all matters are concluded. Whether you choose one of our set Choices, or prefer to create a funeral experience tailored to the wishes of yourself or the deceased, we will listen and provide you with advice, to ensure that the funeral for your loved one is the best experience that it can be.