What To Do When Someone Dies?

No one wants to talk about death or is ready for the death of a family member, friend, or colleague. Death can occur suddenly due to a pandemic an injury, suicide, accident, or murder. It can also be expected, from old age, or from an incurable illness such as cancer. Losing someone you love no matter the cause of death is a difficult time.

Many people are not able to deal with the death of a loved one, and many people struggle over a length of time to cope and can often end up depressed. There may be no right way to cope with death, but you still have the responsibility to bury a loved one and over time you should heal and cope with the death.

As days go by, you will be sad and may struggle to do anything, but this is not the end of the world. You still have a life to live and many roles to play. You have to figure out those critical things to do and ensure you bury the deceased fittingly.

It may be an emotional time for you, your family, and your friends, but there is a lot to do. In this light, there are steps to undertake when a loved one dies. We’ve pulled together a guide with the ins and outs of what to do when someone dies

Who do I need to inform when someone dies?

You have to register the death of a loved one to the right authorities. It is the very first step to help you commence the death certification process. Not everyone can confirm a death. By registering a death the certification process is started and completed by a professional doctor or coroner, who will provide a medical certificate.

Once you get the certificate, you’ll need to get copies of the document. You’ll then need to organise the disposition of the body of the loved one, settling the respective estate, and handling other affairs like insurance and bank accounts. Other vital things to hold in your fingertips as you report a death include;

If you are at a hospital or healthcare facility, it’s easy to complete the death certification process. The professionals you will be dealing with will guide you through the procedure.

If you are at a funeral home, you can contact the authority and start the certification process.

If you are stranded and need immediate assistance, call an emergency line like 999. However, you will need a funeral director to claim the body for disposition.

If the dead person was an organ donor, you need to follow the right path and have the body cleared. Check and confirm whether the loved one was an organ donor. Act immediately and alert the proper authorities. It will be easy for the health institution of choice to get the organ and preserve it in the appropriate place for donation.

Inform Family and Friends

Sharing the news of a loved one who has just died is not easy. Try and figure out whom to call and deliver the bad news. How one family will take the news of the death of a loved one is different from how another family will receive the news.

Make a list and identify all the people known to the deceased and know their personalities. You can contact;

• All family members
• Friends
• Colleagues
• Immediate employer
• Close associates
• Anyone close to the dead within the neighbourhood

The way you deliver this terrible news matters a lot. It is advisable to opt for face to face communication and prepare to answer a lot of questions. Don’t forget to keep it short and simple, give the loved ones space and time to mourn.

Arrange the Funeral

There are many things to put into consideration as you plan a funeral. As a family, decide whether to have a burial or to cremate the dead. You can arrange the funeral as a family or come up with a committee. However, it is wise to enlist the help of a funeral director if you find the whole process emotionally draining.

If you are going to arrange the funeral yourself, you need to contact the nearby crematorium and cemeteries department. Come up with a price list that will cover every detail of the funeral expenses.

The funeral costs can be catered for by you and other family members or the selected committee. You can also get funeral funds from a financial plan or scheme the deceased person had secured. You can use a prepaid funeral plan or insurance policy. Or get money from the loved one’s estate.

Budget for the ceremony and make sure you pick a suitable coffin. Book a crematorium if you plan to cremate the deceased. Delegate duties and ensure the service is a success.

Decide whether you should go for a religious minister, a member of the family, or a friend to conduct the funeral. Your funeral director should lend a hand and find the best humanist celebrant or civil cleric to conduct the funeral in goodwill.

Register a death with the Government and Other Suitable Organisations

It should not take long before you tell different organisations that the deceased worked with. Go on and notify the government about the dead. If the deceased was renting a house, inform the landlord as soon as possible. You will avoid unnecessary expenditures as well as be able to move the dead person’s belongings from the house.

If you have been renting a premise together, and the lease is in the deceased’s name, let the landlord know. You will shun unnecessary issues that might cost you money and waste your time. Let the concerned organisations have the necessary details and have everything transferred under your name for any payments or bills to be cleared.

You should notify the following vital organisations; mortgage providers, council housing offices, housing entities, and agents as well as utility companies. These organisations will be able to make claims against or for the deceased client. You will know the way forward in settling any disputes that arise. Make sure you contact each organisation involved.

Once you have a death certificate, notify the government as soon as possible. For instance, contact:

• Passport office to cancel or return the passport of the deceased
• Department for Work and Pension to stop the designated state pension and benefits
• The local authority for their Council Tax, housing benefits, and the electoral register
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and cancel or return the driving license, car registration, and car tax details of the deceased.
• If the dead worked under public sector, visit their offices and get clarifications about the dead’s pension scheme
• It is wise to notify these institutions individually and gather robust information concerning the dead and get the necessary explanations.

With this in mind, there are several other crucial details that you need to provide. They include;

1. Name and date of death of the deceased

2. National insurance number of the deceased

3. The reference number provided when you register the demise of a loved one

4. Date of birth, passport number, and contact details of the next of kin

5. Details of the person handling the deceased’s estate

6. Details of any benefits the next of kin will get or anyone claiming joint entitlement with the deceased

7. Name of the public sector they are getting a pension scheme from

Deal with a Reputed and Trusted Will Executor

A will left behind by the deceased plays a significant role in the division of property, belongings, and money. The will executor you deal with should transfer wealth to the rightful heirs without any misgivings.

Funeral Plans

Planning a funeral is not an easy undertaking, especially if you have lost a close family member, friend, or colleague. During these sad times, you don’t have to stress or drain yourself emotionally. You can save some of the pain by getting a funeral plan in place to help your loved ones.

A funeral plan is a great strategy to give those you leave behind peace of mind. Funeral plans offer your loved ones a mechanism to cater to all funeral expenses without digging into their pockets. They will have fewer financial responsibilities as they plan to give you a memorable send-off.

Significantly, with a funeral plan, you can arrange for your funeral or plan your loved one’s funeral. It’s easy to get a funeral plan. You just need to pay either in instalments or in large sums to the provider of choice.

With the best funeral plan, your funds will be invested in a trust fund, where your money is secure. If you are interested in a funeral plan, you can be put in contact with our trusted network by going to our funeral plans page and filling out a form.