First Steps

When someone dies at home

If you lose someone at home and the death has been expected, the first thing you will need to do is to contact the GP practice or doctor who has
been treating your loved one. The GP will come to the house to certify the death. Once this has been done, you can call Brunel Funeral Directors
and we will arrange to bring your loved one into our care. Our funeral director will arrive as quickly as possible in our private ambulance and we
will always aim to park as close to the property as possible. We will then carry out our duties quietly and discreetly, always with dignity.
Under normal circumstances, if your loved one has seen the GP during their last 14 days, the GP will issue the ‘Medical Cause of Death’
document. You will need to collect this from the GP’s receptionist and take it with you to register the death, normally within 5 days. The registrar
will then provide you with the Death Certificate(s).

When someone dies in hospital

When someone passes away in hospital, the hospital will ask you if you will be arranging a burial or cremation.
This is so the appropriate legal documentation can be completed. They will then arrange the ‘Medical Cause of
Death’ document. You will also need to arrange collection of any belongings from the hospital. You can then
inform us to act on your behalf and we will arrange to bring your loved one into our care. We can then start
making the funeral arrangements with you.

When someone dies in a nursing home

When a death occurs in a nursing home, you will normally have previously arranged with the home which funeral directors you wish to be
called. The home will arrange everything with the doctor and then call us to bring your loved one into our care. into our care.

Following a sudden death

If your loved one passes away suddenly and unexpectedly, you must first call for an ambulance. The paramedics will verify the death and if
necessary, will contact the police (this is nothing to be concerned about and is normal practice). A mortuary team will convey your loved one to a
Coroner’s Mortuary. There, the Coroner will conduct their investigations into the cause of death. Once the Coroner’s investigation has been
completed, they will send confirmation to us, and we can then bring your loved one into our care. Having a sudden death does not stop you from
contacting us, having discussions, and seeking advice. We will guide you through the process

Registering the Death

Who should register a death?
The death should be registerd by relative of the deceased. If this is not possible, then someone who was present at the death can also do this. If there are no relatives then the person who takes charge of the arrangements will also be able to do this.

Make an appointment to register the death.
You must make an appointment with the Register Office to register a death. You must register the death within the area that the death occurred and you should register within 5 working days of the death occurring.
For deaths in Bristol you must ring 0117 922 2800 (you can then choose to make an appointment at either Bristol Registrars Office in Corn Street or at Southmead Hospital).
For deaths in South Gloucestershire, please ring 01454 863 140 for an appointment. Civic Centre, High Street, Bristol, BS15 9TR.
For deaths in North Somerset, please ring 01823 282 251 for an appointment. Castlewood, Tickenham Road, Clevedon

Tell Us Once (TUO) service

Following the registration of a death several government departments and local services will need to be told.

Once the death is registered the registrar will issue you with a TUO reference number. You can go online or call the Department for Work and Pensions for free on 0800 083 7308. They will tell most government and local government departments that the death has taken place, on your behalf.

You have 28 days to use this service after registering the death.

You can find out more about the service from the Department for Work and Pensions: Tell Us Once – Gov.uk website

Can I personalise my funeral for my loved one?

Yes, you can now have the funeral of your choice, either a celebration of someones life or a traditional funeral service. You are able to choose whatever music suits your family and loved one, you can have a celebrant, minister or even take the service yourself. We will discuss all your options and with you find the best outcome.

How do I organise a burial?

Burials are possible but as graves are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and you may not have your first choice of cemetery. We will work with you to try to find the best outcome. We will try to find out if you have an existing family grave that can be used. If not we will find out the options available to you.

I want a Green Funeral?

Green funerals are burials that take place in natural woodland or meadows, in areas that concentrate on encouraging flowers and wildlife and the natural beauty of the surrounding area. For a green funeral the coffin must be made of a natural biodegradable material, e.g willow, banana leaf, cardboard.

Does my loved one have to be embalmed?

No. This is not required and most of the time unnecessary. We will only request this in very extreme situations, ie. if someone has to be repatriated to another country it is then a legal requirement.

What happens to the flowers?

Flowers at a burial will remain on the grave, but at a cremation the flowers are taken to the garden of rest and after a few days will be disposed of. We actively encourage our families to take the flowers away or take them to a family grave or if you dont want them to be wasted we can always find a nursing home that will make use of them. The main point to be made is you have paid for them, and you can make use of them as you wish.