Arranging a Funeral

A funeral for a member of your family or friend is the most difficult day of your life. Everything your family and friends ever thought about a loved one is expressed on that day.

Whenever someone dies it comes as a great shock, sometimes the death may be expected, but nothing prepares you for the emotional shock of losing someone.

The thought of arranging a funeral is not something any of us would want to do.  This together with the distress and emotional upset, leaves the bereaved completely disorientated and unsure of what to do next.

It is for this reason that our funeral directors have been trained to understand and cope with. We will endeavour, under any circumstances to provide the bereaved with full and fair information about all services we can provide and information we can give.

The First Call

The details for each funeral will be discussed with you in full by the funeral director, you will have as much time as possible to ensure the right decisions and choices are made.  

Once we receive your final wishes we will contact all necessary churches, clergy, cemeteries / crematoria, etc. and inform you of the final arrangements as soon as possible.

In all aspects of the funeral arrangements our funeral director will point out the procedures and legal requirements as applied to every stage of the funeral.

The funeral director who meets with you initially will be your nominated personal consultant/advisor and will provide impartial advice and guidance to you throughout the whole funeral arrangements.

Registration of Death

You are legally required to register a death. You need to register a death to obtain documents so the the funeral directror can proceed with the arrangements and to handle the legalities of a deceased's estate.

The following people, in order of preference, are elgally required to register the death:

  • a relative
  • a person present at death
  • the occupier of the premises where the death occured (if he/she was aware of the death)
  • the person arranging the funeral (this does not relate to the funeral director)
When registering a death, you must take the following documents:
  • Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (signed by the deceased's doctor) OR
  • HM Coroner's Certificate to enable registration
The following documents should also be taken, if available:
  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate
  • NHS Medical Card
  • National Insurance Number
Information you'll need to tell the registrar:
  • the person's full name at time of death
  • any names previously used, including maiden surname
  • the person's date and place of bith (town and county if born in the UK and country if born abroad)
  • their last address
  • their current/last occupation
  • the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving spouse or civil partner
  • if they were getting a state pension or any other state benefit
Documents the registrar will give you:
  • a certificate for burial or cremation (referred to a the 'Green Form') - this gives permission for the body to be buried/cremated.
  • a certificate of registration of death (from BD8) - this is issued for social security purposes if the person was on a state pension or benefits (it is adviseable to read all information contained within this form before completing and returning it - if applicable)
  • copies of the certified death certificate are available at any additional cost (currently £4.50 each).  These will be need by the executor or adminsitrator when arranging the person's affairs.
Local Registry Offices
Please note: You must contact the registry office to make an appoint prior to attending.
Town Hall
Manchester Road
Bury
BL9 0SW
Tel: 0161 253 6026
Heron House
47 Lloyd Street
Manchester
M2 5LE
Tel: 0161 234 5555
Town Hall
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5DA
Tel: 0161 909 6501
Mere Hall
Merehall Street
Bolton
BL1 2QT
Tel: 01204 331 185
Chadderton Town Hall
Middleton Road
Chadderton
OL9 6PP
Tel: 0161 770 8960
Town Hall
Vicars Gate
Rochdale
OL16 1AB
Tel: 01706 924 784