Q. What documents do I need to register a death?
In order to register a death you need to be a relative of the deceased and you need to have a medical certificate of cause of death issued by a medical practitioner who has attended the deceased during the last illness in all cases where the death is not referred to the coroner.
Q. Where can I go to register a death?
A death must be registered in the district where it took place. There is a facility whereby the relative may attend to register the death at any other register office and attest a declaration but in this case documents that are issued by the registrar will be received by post and it may delay the funeral arrangements.
Q. Why has the death been referred to the Coroner's Office? And therefore why won't you registrar the death?
Where the cause of death is not certain or may be the result of an accident / injury / an industrial disease or there is no doctor who has attended the deceased during their last illness then the death will be required to be reported to the Coroner for further investigation. In these circumstances the Coroner may or may not decide to hold a post mortem to ascertain the cause of death or hold an inquest to determine the circumstances in which the death occurred. The Registrar is required to wait until he receives confirmation by the Coroner that he has concluded his investigations before he can register the death and hence issue the authority for the funeral to take place.
There are various qualifications for people wishing to register the death. Normally it would be a relative of the person who has died, this can be any relative and not necessarily the next of kin. Where there are no relatives or it would cause undue hardship for a relative to register the death then someone who was present at the death or taking care of the funeral arrangements can register the death instead. An executor of the estate is not a qualification for someone to register a death.
Q. Who can register a still birth?
A still birth must be registered by the mother or father of the child (if they are married to each other) or by a person present at the still birth.
Q. What is the difference between a still birth and a death?
A still birth is the medical term where a child is still born that is never showed any signs of life at any time after being issued from its mother's womb from the 24th week of pregnancy onwards.
Q. What documents does the registrar give me after registering a still birth?
After the registration of a still birth the registrar will issue a certificate for the burial or cremation to take place and a certificate of registration. You may if you wish obtain a copy of the entry in the register at the time of registration if you wish there is a charge for this document.
Q. How much does it cost to register a death?
There is no cost for the registration of either a birth death or a still birth but you do need to pay for certified copies of the entry (certificates).
Q. What do I need to produce to register a still birth?
As with a death registration you need to obtain a medical certificate of still birth from a doctor or a midwife in attendance or who has examined the still born child.
Q. What do I need to do if I want to bury or cremate a body in this country if the death took place abroad?
If the death took place abroad then you will need to enquire with the register office for the district in which the burial or cremation will take place to obtain a certificate of no liability, which must be given to the funeral director. The register will require evidence of the fact that the death has already been registered and the cause of death ascertained, usually a certified death certificate in order to issue this form.
Q. What do I need if I want to bury or cremate a body abroad?
Where a death has taken place in England and Wales and it is intended to take the body out of the country then the coroner will be required to give his authority. The registrar will issue a form to take to the coroner at the time of registration instead of the normal green form for the funeral director.
Q. Can I obtain a certificate from a still birth register?
Certificates from still birth registers can be obtained at the time of registration by the informant or after by the mother or father only. Once a still birth register has been completed it is held with the records at the General Register Office and applications for certificates must be made there.
Q. What can I do if I need to arrange the funeral quickly?
Most funeral arrangements are made within a week of the death having taken place. How soon the funeral may take place depends on several factors, how soon a medical certificate of cause of death can be obtained, whether the coroner needs to be informed and whether he will hold a post mortem. If the funeral is to be a burial and does not need to be referred to the coroner it is possible for the registrar to issue a form for burial before the death is registered but this facility is not available for a cremation and it is not possible for this to happen if the coroner is investigating the death.
Q. Is it possible to have access to drive into Oldham cemeteries?
It is possible for vehicular access to all of the 7 cemeteries in Oldham. The main drive gates are opened at dawn and shut at dusk by Oldham’s Security Services.
Q. I have been told that metal caskets are not allowed in Oldham Cemeteries, why not?
Metal caskets are allowed to be interred in any of the 7 cemeteries in Oldham. They are not, however, allowed to be cremated. Metal coffins are usually brought in from abroad. If a cremation is required the metal casket would have to be replaced by a suitable coffin.
Q. I want to transfer a grave into my name. What do I do?
Transfer of grave ownership can be arranged at the central Cemeteries Office at Hollinwood Cemetery, Roman Road, Hollinwood, Oldham. There is a fee of £34.00 (subject to change after 30.03.03) payable for this service.
Q. What burial arrangements can be made for me if I have no living family or friends who can take responsibility?
We suggest people do make a will and engage a solicitor as an executor if they have no family or friends willing to take that responsibility
If people die in hospital in testate and without family then the hospital will arrange a cremation – the cost for which ill be recovered, as far as possible, form any resources which they leave. If they have no resources, the hospital pays for the cremation. If people die at home, in such circumstances then the Social Services department will make the financial arrangements. Again. The cost will be recovers, as far as possible, from any resources, which they leave. If they have no resources the Local Authority pays for the cremation. Once all costs and debts which the deceased person has left, are paid form any resources, which they may have had, any residue is forwarded to the Duchy of Lancaster.