The death of a family member is a sad time for the whole family. The funeral arrangements need to be made and the family may have a lot of questions about what to do next.
It’s important that you register the death as soon as possible because it’s illegal to bury or cremate someone without registering their death.
If someone dies at home, it’s usually the responsibility of the next-of-kin or executor to arrange for their burial or cremation. If they die in hospital or in a care home, then the person who registered them as living there should complete all necessary paperwork.
Registering a death is important because it helps ensure that the deceased’s family and friends receive any benefits they’re entitled to – such as Bereavement Benefit from Social Security and Bereavement Allowance from Jobseekers Allowance. It also ensures that bills are paid out of their estate (money left behind after their death).
When someone dies, they are registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) within seven days of their death or before burial – whichever happens first.
To register a death, you must submit an application to your local Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The Registrar cannot hold off registering a death until you have received all the information you need, so it is important that you ask for any relevant documents as soon as possible.
You will also need to tell your local council that someone has passed away so that they can cancel their benefits or tax credits if necessary and make any other changes to their records which may be necessary.
Each state has its own laws regarding how deaths should be registered and what information needs to be provided by those applying for registration. The law does not require a funeral director to obtain a death certificate for families who want one, but all states do require the funeral director to file an affidavit with their local Registrar before proceeding with a burial or cremation.
There are several reasons why it is important to register a death:
It gives you peace of mind that everything has been done properly. This can make it easier for you to deal with the rest of your life after such a traumatic event.
It ensures that your loved one’s estate will be distributed according to their wishes – if they have made a Will, this may include gifts for charity or gifts for friends and family members.
It ensures that no one else claims money owed by your loved one before their estate has been distributed.