Death of a friend

Jill__2

DX2 wrote: »

Jill where are you? As Scotland and England have slightly different rules regarding death.

I am in England.

snapping_crocodile

DX2 wrote: »

£4 :eek: IIRC they are about £17 in Scotland.

£17 :eek::eek::eek:
Just had a little squizz on line as I wasn't sure...wasn't really fully functioning at the time I purchased them

If you purchase them when you register they are £3.50 each. If you want more after the event you have to wait a month (i think) before the entry is deemed closed, then they are £7 each.

SUESMITH_2

really sorry to hear whats gone on, i found after my dads died last year that most people and organisations were great and very kind. hope you have similar luck.

Jill__2

You don't think I'm being heartless trying to get all this done?

snapping_crocodile

Jill_ wrote: »

You don't think I'm being heartless trying to get all this done?

Not at all. You are trying to give him a diginified send off and remember him as the wonderful friend he has been to you. The fact he left you a letter shows you are the one he trusted to help him out at a time when he is unable to do so himself. You are being a wonderful friend, something I am sure he would appreciate

ClootiesMum

Jill,

Firstly, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss - it must have been a terrible shock for you.

If you contact a funeral director they should help you through all the formalities that need to be done - they should be able to arrange to bring your friend back from the hospital and will help and advise on the paperwork that need to be completed - at least that's what we found when mum died.

DX2

Jill_ wrote: »

You don't think I'm being heartless trying to get all this done?

You are on auto pilot, you aren't doing anything wrong, you aren't heartless! All these formal things have to be done we find strength within ourself without actually looking for it at times like these.

Please look after youself, I suspect that it really hasn't "hit" you yet. You have so much things going on in your head and you are keeping yourself busy. Do what you think is right your friend wouldn't want it any other way.

mintymoneysaver

ClootiesMum wrote: »

Jill,

Firstly, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss - it must have been a terrible shock for you.

If you contact a funeral director they should help you through all the formalities that need to be done - they should be able to arrange to bring your friend back from the hospital and will help and advise on the paperwork that need to be completed - at least that's what we found when mum died.

I would only advise not to contact a funeral director just yet. As somebody else said once they have been told to sort things out by you, you will be responsible for all the bills. Wait and see what Barclays say first, he may have told them what he wants doing .

Jill__2

Morning all.

I called Barclays at 9am, to inform them to what has happend. They inform me he had paid in advance for a funeral (After 20 minutes trying to dig his file out and calling me back) and everything could be arranged by them else if I wanted to (Which I wanted) I coud do and they gave me a list of local directors that have an agreement with them and I wouldn't be liable. They also inform me I need to register the death asap (I'm not sure this is right) They asked me to surrender any credit or debit cards to them and they'll send them back to the relevant issuer.

Do I need the certificate to contact a funeral director? Or can they obtain the paperwork once the hospital tell me I can collect my friend?

I'm stuck now, Do I contact anyone else after Barclays?

Errata

Jill_ wrote: »

You don't think I'm being heartless trying to get all this done?

Not at all, you're being the best friend in the world. Many people find that sorting out the practicalities helps them to pay the greatest respect to someone who died.

Perhaps at this point it might help to list the order of things when someone dies unexpectedly.

The hospital asks for the cause of death to be identified
The Coroners Office decides if a post mortem is necessary
The Coroner issues the death certificate to the hospital
The certificate is collected from the hospital by someone
That person makes an appointment with the district Registrar to register the death
The death is registered at that appointment
The funeral is arranged complying with any wishes expressed in a will eg cremation rather than burial or vice versa

The Coroners Assistant at the Coroners Office will guide people through the steps up to collecting the death certificate.

At any point from the death the undertaker can be contacted, they are used to the procedure and will liaise with the hospital to collect the deceased and convey them to the undertakers premises

The person who arranges the funeral signs a contract with the undertaker agreeing to pay the costs

Make an appointment with the bank to hand over the death certificate so the will can be obtained by the executors (in this case the bank) who will then settle the estate by paying any debts and bequests. The funeral costs have first claim on the estate. This is because the person who has died often has made arrangements for this perhaps by way of a life insurance policy and the person who contracted with the undertaker hands the bill to the estate which will reimburse them if there are sufficient funds in the estate)

I hope I've made this as clear as possible.
The Coroners Assistant, the undertaker and the Bank will all know what should happen and will give the utmost assistance. I found the Coroners Assistant to be an absolute rock when I had to make the arrangements for a sudden unexplained death

I also found it helpful to keep a running note of all the steps I'd taken as my memory was a bit unreliable. It is a stressful time.