The time following somebody passing away can be very difficult and is often not the easiest subject to talk about in advance. However, during this emotional period, there are a number of practical tasks that need to be done.
Age Space has put together the following guide to the steps that will need to be taken after somebody dies in Dorset to make things as simple as possible for you during this difficult time. You may also like to take a look at our page dedicated to Bereavement Support Services in Dorset.
Obtaining a death certificate in Dorset
The first thing you will need to do when somebody dies in Dorset is obtain a death certificate for them. The manner in which you can do this will vary depending on where they passed away.
You can find out more about this on Age Space’s national guide of what to do when somebody dies.
If somebody dies at home
If somebody has died at home, you will need to call the doctor who can provide you with a medical certificate detailing the cause of death. The doctor will also be able to inform you properly on your next steps.
If somebody dies in a care home
If somebody was in a residential or nursing home at the time of their death, it is likely that the doctor will already have been called. The home will be able to supply you with the medical certificate and inform you of what to do going forward.
If somebody dies in hospital
If somebody dies in hospital, they will take care of issuing the medical certificate and formal notice for you.
If somebody dies unexpectedly
If the doctor cannot confirm the cause of death, of the circumstances are complicated, the death may be referred on to the coroner’s office in Dorset. At this point, the coroner will be able to decide whether or not an inquest is required. They will keep in close contact with you through the process so you know what’s happening the entire time.
This is mainly a formality in the event that the death was sudden or unexpected. Most of the time there will be no further action, so this isn’t something to be worried about. You can use the details below to contact the coroner’s office in Dorset:
Dorset Coroner's Office
- Address: Bournemouth Coroner's Courts, Town Hall, Bournemouth BH1 6DY
- Telephone: 01202 123 900
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Registering a death in Dorset
Unless a coroner is involved, you will need to register the death within five days of it occurring. This will need to be done by a family member, somebody present at the death or somebody arranging the funeral.
To register a death in Dorset, you will will need to contact a registry office to have a death certificate put together. You can make an appointment with any registry office, but it will be quicker if you use the one in the area that the person died. You can follow this link to Find a Register Office by postcode.
You can find a full list of anything you will need to bring to your registry office appointment in our national guide on what to do when somebody dies. This will include a debit or credit card to pay for death certificates. The registrar will be able to provide you with additional copies of the death certificate for use when informing other organisations.
Organisations to Contact in Dorset
Tell Us Once
Dorset councils run the Tell Us Once service that allows lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. The registrar will tell you about using Tell Us Once and give you a unique reference number to access the service online or by phone. The following information is required to register:
- Date of birth
- National insurance number
- Driving licence number
- Passport number
- Details of any benefits or entitlements, such as State Pension
- Details of any local council services e.g. Blue Badge
- Name and address of next of kin
- Name, address and contact details of the person or company dealing with their estate – their Executor/Administrator (you will need their permission to provide their details).
Tell Us Once will notify:
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- DVLA and the Passport Office
- The Local Council
You will still need to notify:
- Company pensions or personal pension providers
- Banks and building societies (including joint accounts)
- Company registrars of shareholdings
- Credit card companies
- Doctor’s surgery and hospital attended by the deceased
- Insurance companies
Arranging a funeral in Dorset
Organising the funeral of loved ones can be daunting, but it’s important to get it right and in a way that befits their memory.
These days, there are many different types of funeral and some people choose to mark the death of their loved one with a service in celebration of their life. You may find our national Guide to Funeral Planning useful.
Most people still engage the services of a funeral director, usually one based nearby. You will be ab le to find a funeral director that suits you needs be searching in the following directories:
