Introduction

The funeral can usually only take place after the medical certificate of the cause of death is complete and the death is registered. You can pay for a funeral director to arrange the funeral or you can do it yourself.  You should check if the person who died had made arrangements for their funeral – this could include prepaid funeral plans or life insurance or a bereavement/death committee.

What to do when someone dies

When somebody passes away you will need to register the death and secure any necessary documentation (much of this is done electronically), arrange and carry out the funeral, notify government departments and deal with the estate.

The key stages are:

1) Register the death

Initially a ‘medical certificate of the cause of death’ (MCCD) will be issued by your GP or Hospital Doctor (often done electronically) depending on whether the death occurred at home/in the community or at a hospital setting. New rules will soon mean that an independent doctor known as a Medical Examiner will also scrutinise and check the MCCD and be required to approve it.  Once the MCCD is received, you must then register the death with your Local Council’s Registrar. The Registrar will give you a ‘certificate for a burial’ (burial order) to give to the funeral director (often done electronically). You must do this before the funeral can take place.  The funeral director can help with this process.

Some deaths which were not expected or where a cause of death cannot be given by a doctor, will need to be referred to a Coroner. If an autopsy is needed, it may be possible for the coroner to arrange a digital autopsy to avoid having to undertake an invasive physical post-mortem.  The coroner will decide whether a post-mortem examination is required and how this will be carried out.  You can express a preference for a digital autopsy for religious reasons.  However, the decision will be made by the coroner. 

Please note that if you wish to move a body for burial abroad, you need permission and out of country document from the coroner. This may take extra time and you will also then need to arrange transport for the deceased body and also book flight tickets for any accompanying passengers. 

The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. You can pay for a funeral director to arrange the funeral or do it yourself.  You will need to consider issues such as where the funeral will be held (normally in a mosque – you will need to contact the Imam or Chairperson); any family or friends you wish to invite to the funeral; how you want to announce the death and funeral time to the wider Muslim community; transport to the mosque and to the cemetery; burial; any post burial food arrangements for your guests and mourners who have travelled; whether you wish to stay in the mosque afterwards for condolences or whether you wish to stay at home; whether you wish to hold a further religious service a few days after the burial.  Your funeral director and the Imam/Chairperson of the local mosque can advise on all of these aspects.

The Tell Us Once service allows you to inform all the relevant government departments when someone dies.  You will also need to tell banks, utility companies, and landlords or housing associations yourself.

  1. You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your partner has died.
  2. Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave – You and your partner may be able to take time off work if your child dies before they turn 18, or if you have a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. You might be able to get leave, pay or both. Your employment rights are protected while on Parental Bereavement Leave.
  3. You could get Guardian’s Allowance if you’re bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may also be eligible if there’s one surviving parent.

Your tax, benefit claims and pension might change depending on your relationship with the person who has died.

Get help with managing grief and the things you need to do when someone dies.

If your right to live in the UK depends on your relationship with someone who died you might need to apply for a new visa.

To find out if there is Inheritance Tax to pay, you need to estimate the value of the property, money and possessions (the ‘estate’) of the person who died.  There is a process for doing this and you will need to report its value. 

You might need to apply for probate before you can deal with the property, money and possessions (the ‘estate’) of the person who died.

Pay any debts or taxes owed by the person who has died. You can then distribute the estate as set out in the Will or the law.

There are different criteria for the benefits above and the rules regarding registration.  Further information all the above steps is available here:  https://www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies

Funeral Directors

Funeral costs can include:

  • funeral director fees which may include transport of the body in a hearse, the coffin, the kaffan (burial shroud)
  • things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example cemetery or local authority burial fees
  • Costs of consumables in relation to the ghusl (a specific method of washing the deceased with certain conditions. It is one of the obligatory actions in Islamic rulings—it is a collective obligation (al-wajib al-kifa’i) that can be complete if someone undertakes it.)  It is best if a close family member leads the ghusl.  Your local mosque or funeral director may be able to advise on the ghusl process.

Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quote. You can get quotes from several funeral directors to see what is available within your budget.

There are Muslim funeral directors available locally who may be able to advise on the Islamic duties at funeral times including the process of performing the ghusl and wrapping the body in the kaffan.

Help with Burial fees

The cost of living is difficult for many of us.  The financial costs of death can also be significant, and you need to plan in advance for them.  Burial and funeral director charges could quite easily cost £4,500 or above.  Cost of flowers, transport for the family, food for any funeral service and other costs are all additional. 

You may also wish to install a gravestone, this is normally done a few months after burial to allow the ground around the grave to settle so that it is more suitable for the weight of a gravestone.  This will be an additional cost which is generally not covered by a bereavement/death committee saving scheme, if you are a member of such a scheme. 

There are a number of ways you can plan ahead for these costs including:

  • Saving a lump sum or regular amount in a savings account. Bear in mind that your family will need to access this in the event of your death and if this is handled through the inheritance route this may take some time whilst the payment for funeral costs needs to be completed quicker. 
  • Being part of a bereavement fund (also known in the community as a “death committee”) with family or friends. Whilst such schemes can be very successful and efficient, others have been known to collapse and money has been lost for members.  You should ensure you know the rules of membership including regular contribution rates, benefits due from the scheme and what will happen to your money in the event that the scheme is wound up or goes bankrupt.
  • A funeral plan can help you cover the costs of your funeral in advance so your loved ones aren’t left with unexpected costs. How much your funeral costs really depends on your wishes. 

Whatever method of costs planning you choose, it is important that this is done with the benefit of any independent financial advice and verification that may be necessary.