What you need to know in times of bereavement
If death occurs at home
If death occurs at home there is usually a kind friend, neighbour or relative able to attend duties in the sick room.
Inform the doctor
As soon as possible inform the doctor that the death has occurred. He/she may write out the Medical Certificate of Death when he/she visits the house, or may request you attend the surgery for this purpose.
When death occurs in hospital
Apply to the hospital for the Medical Certificate of Death, and not to your doctor.
The Fiscal
In cases where the death has been reported to the Fiscal, the procedure is somewhat different. The Fiscal and his officers are working in your interest. No doctor will issue a Medical Certificate of Death. But when the Fiscal is satisfied with the cause of death he will issue an EI certificate, which will be picked up by the Funeral Director.
Who can register a death
- Any close relative of deceased
- Any Relative in attendance during last illness
- Any relative living in the district where the death occurred
- Any person present at death
- The person causing the disposal
Documents required
- Medical certificate of death
- Medical card if available
- Birth certificate and information regarding the date of birth
Information required to register
1. Date and place of death
2. Full name of deceased (maiden name if applicable)
3. Date and place of birth
4. Occupation and home address
5. If married, full name and occupation of surviving spouse.
What is confirmation
When someone dies, somebody has to deal with their estate (the money, property and possessions left by the deceased person), by collecting all the money, paying any debts and distributing the estate to those entitled.
The Sheriff Clerk of Court nearest to where the person died issues a document which is called the Confirmation. The Confirmation is issued to the person appointed by the deceased in his or her Will to be the executor, or if there is no Will to someone appointed Executor by the Court. A fee is chargeable depending on the size of the estate.
Why is Confirmation necessary?
Organisations holding money in the deceased's name need to know to whom the money is to be paid. The Confirmation gives the executor title to deal with the estate.
Is this grant always needed?
Confirmation is sometimes not needed if the deceased's money will be released without the holder of the estate seeing the Confirmation document, or if the amount of the estate is small.
Consult a solicitor
In most circumstances it is advisable for you to consult a solicitor both to relieve you of many worries and to take control of wills, problems of intestacy, outstanding debts, grants and letters of administration. A solicitor could save you a great deal of unnecessary trouble and eventually save you money. If it is known that a will was made, it is important that the contents be ascertained as soon as possible after death as it may contain instructions regarding the funeral arrangements. A will may be among personal papers, or with the bank or solicitor for safe keeping. If a solicitor has been consulted by the deceased in the recent past it is important that you contact them without delay.
Ministers and Priests
Please contact your local parish minister or priest. If you wish, they will be happy to help and give support during and after your bereavement.
Floral Tributes
The gentle beauty of flowers expresses your personal remembrance and brings comfort to the bereaved.
Donations to Charity
If donations are requested in lieu of flowers, we will accept and list donations on your behalf and forward them in due course to a charity of your choice.
Cremated Remains
At the time of making funeral arrangements, it is not always easy to focus on what to do with the cremated remains.This is a very emotive subject and we would be happy to discuss with you various ways you can remember your loved ones.
Memorials
A Memorial is a permanent and timeless reminder of a loved one and as such should be selected with care. When choosing a new headstone or marker, consideration must be given to names which may be added in future years in order that there is sufficient lettering space to allow for these. Your Monumental Sculptor should provide you with suggested inscriptions and ornamentation illustrating how the memorial will look when complete. There is no restriction on how soon after the funeral a memorial can be erected in the Cemetery.
Take care with that final gift
A memorial is not just a marker erected over a grave to remind us of the name of the deceased, it is a lasting symbol of remembrance, a tribute to a life now ended and perhaps a final gift to someone dearly loved.
Choose a design and material to meet the regulations of the cemetery or churchyard, harmonise with the surroundings and choose a suitable inscription to withstand the weather. (Remember, perhaps, a possible future inscription in matching lettering.)
A reputable Monumental Sculptor will give you all the advice and help possible in selecting a lasting tribute to your loved one, and will lead you through all the permutations of material, colour, size, shape and ornamentation available.
Costs and charges
In all aspects of the funeral arrangements our staff will point out the procedures and requirements. Whilst arranging the funeral we will advise on costs and charges to be incurred.
The funeral account itself is divided into two separate parts, the Funeral Director's charges and the disbursements. The Funeral Director's charges contain our professional fees and overhead costs, which include the provision of a 24 hour a day on-call rota, our professional services in making the funeral arrangements and arranging documentation and necessary personal attendances, the conveyance of the deceased to our private chapel rest rooms and the use of the same until the day of the funeral.
Disbursements are essentially fees that we pay out on behalf of the family, ie Doctor's fees where appropriate, Crematorium/Cemetery fees and Parochial fees etc. Our written estimate will detail the approximate cost of any disbursements.
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