Your loss is unique to you and you will cope with it in your own way, bereavement is a highly personal and often a traumatic event.

Things to be done when someone dies

If someone dies at home, you must call your doctor who will sign a medical certificate confirming the cause of death (unless the matter is referred to the Coroner).

If the death happened in hospital, the doctor there will issue the certificate.

You must take the certificate to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths within the area where the death occurred within 5 days (this is a legal requirement).

An appointment will be required. If available, take the medical certificate and the medical card. They will also need to know if they were receiving a pension or other benefit.

The Registrar will give you a certificate of registration of death (white form) and a certificate for burial or cremation (green form), which should be given to the funeral director.

You may need several copies of the death certificate to send to banks, building societies and insurance companies. There is a fee payable for copies.

Full details of these processes can be found on the Hampshire County Council website.

The funeral 

The funeral is a time for saying goodbye to the person who has died and for celebrating their life. It gives family and friends the chance to support and comfort each other.

Before you begin to arrange the funeral, it is worth thinking about a few points:

  • Did the person who has died have firm views about what they wanted their funeral to be like? (Did they leave instructions?)
  • What sort of funeral do you and other family and friends want? Do you want a quiet family gathering, or an elaborate ceremony? Will there be a religious service?

You do not have to go to a funeral director to organise the funeral. If you want to make your own arrangements, you can get advice from the council.

However, most people do use a funeral director who can make all the arrangements, whether burial, cremation, a religious or non-religious service. Contact details for funeral directors across the local area can be found using the Local Funeral website.

You can also use Funeral Choice a website that helps you find a local funeral director, compare prices and read how-to guides about planning a funeral.

Cremation or burial

Many people have strong views on whether they wish to be cremated or buried. Options available locally are:

Cremation

  • The Oaks Havant Crematorium, Bartons Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 5NA, Phone 023 9222 2648
  • Portchester Crematorium, Upper Cornaway Lane, Portchester, Hampshire. PO16 8NE, Phone 01329 822533
  • Chichester Crematorium, Westhampnett Road, Chichester, Phone 01243 782098

Types of burial

There are different types of burial:

  • Lawned burial (where the grave is covered in grass only)
  • Traditional burial (where planting may be allowed)
  • Green (woodland) burial (a more environmentally friendly form of burial where no memorials are permitted).