Essential Documents Your Funeral Director Needs in the UK

When a loved one passes away, navigating the necessary paperwork can feel overwhelming during a time of grief. Your chosen funeral director plays a crucial role in guiding you through this process. To help make arrangements as smooth as possible, it’s helpful to understand the key documents they will require.

General Essential Documents

Regardless of whether you choose burial or cremation, certain documents are universally required for a funeral to proceed in the UK:

• Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD): This certificate is issued by a doctor and confirms the cause of death. It’s the first vital step, as it enables you to register the death. If the cause of death is unclear or unusual, the death may be referred to a coroner, who will then provide the necessary documentation.
• Death Certificate: Once the death has been registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, you will receive the official Death Certificate. This is a crucial legal document needed for many aspects of settling the deceased’s affairs. It’s often advisable to obtain several certified copies, as various institutions (banks, insurance companies, pension providers) may require an original copy.
• Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the ‘Green Form’): This free certificate is issued by the registrar along with the death certificate. It grants permission for the burial or cremation to take place and must be given to your funeral director as soon as possible. If a coroner is involved, they will issue a different form directly to the funeral director.
• Certificate of Registration of Death (the ‘White Form’ / BD8): This free certificate is issued if the deceased was receiving a state pension or other benefits. It needs to be sent to the relevant department (e.g., Jobcentre Plus) to inform them of the death.

Documents Specific to Cremation

If you are arranging a cremation, additional forms are necessary:

• Cremation Form 1 (Application for Cremation): This form is an application for the cremation of the deceased person and is typically completed by the executor of the will or the nearest relative. Your funeral director will assist you with this.
• Cremation Form 4: This form is completed by the doctor who attended to the deceased and issued the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
• Cremation Form 5: This form is completed by an independent doctor who was not involved in the deceased’s care, providing a second medical opinion.
• Cremation Form 6 (Coroner’s Certificate for Cremation): If the death was investigated by a coroner, this form replaces the ‘green form’ and is issued by the coroner to authorise the cremation.

Documents Specific to Burial

For a burial, the following documents are typically required:

• Burial Form (Notice of Interment Form): This form is used to purchase a new grave or reopen an existing burial plot. Your funeral director will usually complete this or assist you.
• Form 101 / Order for Burial: Similar to the Cremation Form 6, if a coroner has been involved in investigating the death, they will issue this form to authorise the burial.

How Your Funeral Director Can Help

While the list of documents might seem extensive, your funeral director is there to assist you every step of the way. They can provide guidance on obtaining these forms, explain their purpose, and often handle the submission of many of these documents on your behalf. Their experience and knowledge can significantly ease the administrative burden during a challenging time.

For further assistance and compassionate support with funeral arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact us at J. Barlow Funeral Service.