Guides

What to do when someone dies

Someone has just died

How to get a death certificate in the UK

In order to get a death certificate, you need to register the death in a local register office. It’s free to register the death, but you’ll need to pay £11 for each copy of the death certificate.

Compassionate leave: what is it and how much do I get?

We all have to deal with loss at some time in our lives. When this happens, we may need to take time away from work to grieve, organise a funeral and sort out the estate. Taking this time from work is known as compassionate leave.

What is next of kin?

Next of kin is the term used to describe your closest living relative, such as your spouse or civil partner. The UK does not have laws around who you can name as your next of kin, but there are specific rules for who takes responsibility when someone dies.

How to arrange a funeral

If you’re arranging a funeral for someone, you’ll probably want to start by working out what they wanted. This might be something they included in their will. You can then shop around for a service that feels right for everyone.

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Arranging a funeral for someone you love

How to arrange a funeral

If you’re arranging a funeral for someone, you’ll probably want to start by working out what they wanted. This might be something they included in their will. You can then shop around for a service that feels right for everyone.

How to choose between burial and cremation

In a nutshell, choosing cremation gives families more flexibility to remember their loved one, their way – and it’s usually cheaper. But while burials are more expensive overall, they tend to have less impact on the environment.

How to write a eulogy

A eulogy usually includes a timeline of the person’s life and details about their personality. Family or friends might ask you to read one at their funeral or cremation if you were close to them. But there are no set rules about who reads it.

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Attending a funeral

A guide to British funeral etiquette

Funeral etiquette means things like what to wear, whether to send flowers and where to sit. Every funeral is different depending on the family’s wishes, but generally the more traditional it is, the more specific the etiquette.

How to be a pallbearer

A pallbearer is someone who escorts the coffin at a funeral and (if there is one) at a burial, too. They’ll either carry the coffin, move it along on a wheeled trolley called a bier, or walk with it as other people move it.

How long are funerals?

This guide will go through all the things that affect a funeral’s length so that you know what to plan for.

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