Funeral Arrangements in the UK 

1. Death Registration 

The first step is to register the death within five days. However, if the registrar is notified of the issuance of a medical certificate, the deadline can be extended to nine days. If the death is subject to a coroner’s investigation, registration cannot occur until the coroner has issued a report. Death registration is the official record of death, handled by the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. You can find the registrar’s office address online or in a phone directory. [https://www.gov.uk/register-offices] If the deceased passed away at home, the registration can be done at the local registrar’s office in the area where they lived. If the death occurred in a hospital or care home, registration should be done in the area where the hospital or care home is located. In England and Wales, registration can be done at any registrar’s office, which will forward the relevant details to the correct office. [https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/death] When registering the death, you must bring the doctor’s signed death certificate. Without this, registration is not possible. After registering the death, the registrar will issue a green certificate allowing burial or cremation to proceed. The registrar will also give you a form to complete and submit to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), who will handle any pension and benefits related to the deceased. 

Death Certificate 

The death certificate is a copy of the record made by the registrar in the death register. A death certificate is needed to handle any financial matters or property left behind, including the execution of the will. If you need multiple copies of the death certificate, they can be obtained from the General Register Office’s website: [https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp] 

Coroner 

A coroner is a doctor or lawyer appointed by the local government to investigate certain deaths. Anyone with concerns about the cause of death can approach the coroner, but most requests come from doctors or the police. In some cases, the coroner may order a post-mortem examination. If this happens, the body will be sent to a hospital for the post-mortem. You do not have the right to object to the coroner’s order, but you can inform the coroner of any religious or other significant reasons for your objections. Deaths handled by the coroner cannot be registered until the investigation is complete and the coroner has issued a certificate permitting the death to be registered. This means the funeral may need to be delayed. If a post-mortem is conducted, the coroner must authorize cremation. 

2. Notifying the Termination of Benefits and Closing Bank Accounts 

You can notify the relevant authorities online at www.gov.uk/tell-us-once, and you will receive a confirmation letter for the Tell Us Once service. For Attendance Allowance (available for those with long-term physical or mental illness or disability), you will receive a letter to terminate the allowance, and a form needs to be filled in and sent back to DWP. To cancel the Retirement State Pension, call the relevant authorities. For Council Tax suspension, you must reapply for reductions within a month to avoid paying the full amount. To close bank accounts, you can use the Death Notification Service online: https://www.deathnotificationservice.co.uk/. 

3. Funeral Arrangements 

Most funerals are handled by funeral directors. When choosing a funeral director, it is recommended to select one affiliated with a professional association, such as the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or The Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), as these associations have codes of conduct and complaint procedures. If the funeral director is not part of a professional association or if your complaint is not handled properly, you may need to take legal action. Some local authorities offer funeral services in partnership with local funeral directors. Funeral arrangements, including traditional Chinese or Taoist rituals, should be scheduled only after receiving the green certificate from the registrar. 

Arranging a Funeral Without a Funeral Director 

You can also arrange a funeral without using a funeral director. If you choose this option, contact the cemetery or crematorium department of your local government for guidance and advice. Additional information is available at www.naturaldeath.org.uk. 

Purchasing a Burial Plot (Cremation Plot) 

When purchasing a burial plot, cemetery staff will offer several options. Contracts typically last 50 or 100 years. If you don’t want to buy a burial plot, there are other options, such as:    

•   Keeping the ashes for later burial or scattering    

•   Scattering them in a memorial garden    

•   Purchasing a memorial bench, tree, or plaque with the deceased’s name. 

Interment of Ashes 

Once you’ve purchased a plot, you can schedule the burial of the ashes with the cemetery. 

Headstone 

You will need to work with a local stonemason to create a headstone. It typically takes about two weeks for the inscription to be completed, and the stonemason will place the headstone on the grave. 

Basic Funeral Costs    

•   Basic funeral director fees    

•   Embalming (recommended, depending on the circumstances)    

•   Pallbearers    

•   Flowers (can be arranged separately)    

•   Doctor’s fees    

•   Cremation    

•   Coffin 

4. Funeral Reception 

It is customary to hold a gathering after the funeral, where attendees can dine together. 

Taoist Funeral Rituals 

Preparing for a funeral is one of the most difficult tasks, especially due to the emotional turmoil of losing a loved one. Besides the emotional aspect, there are many things to organize. The first priority is to comfort yourself and your family. You should also consider how you want the funeral to be conducted, including any wishes the deceased may have had. There are no right or wrong choices; what feels right for you and your family is the best decision. For many people, following religious and traditional funeral procedures can be lengthy and confusing. Following this guide may clarify the process and hopefully ease some stress. When starting the funeral planning, you should contact a funeral director to understand what they need from you. They can begin planning the funeral even before you receive the death certificate. The funeral director will arrange for the body to be transferred into their care, perform embalming, and care for the body. They will assist in selecting the coffin and choosing between burial or cremation. You will also need to decide on a date for the funeral. Ask the funeral director to provide you with at least three potential dates, and they will arrange it with the cemetery. Next, request a shopping list for the necessary funeral items. If unsure, consult with a Taoist priest for advice. Taoist funerals are common in Hong Kong. Taoist or Chinese rituals are usually conducted by a Taoist priest, who performs ceremonies in the funeral hall for the deceased. The rituals may include the “opening of the path,” “water blessings,” and “flag bearing.” The “opening of the path” leads the deceased’s soul back for family to pay respects. The “water blessing” ritual involves the priest leading family members around the casket for good fortune and blessings. The “flag bearing” allows descendants to wash the deceased’s face one last time before burial, symbolizing filial piety. 

Funerary and Afterlife Rituals    

•   Mourning robes, mourning staff, spirit tablets    

•   Journey tickets    

•   Opening the path, water blessings, fortune blessings    

•   Taoist chants and prayers    

•   Setting up the ceremonial burner at the burial site    

•   Removal of mourning attire and symbols of mourning