Can I cancel holiday due to realatives imminent death

bigadaj

Lorian wrote: »

Travelling to another registry office will just delay the paperwork.

"If you use a different register office the documents will be sent to the office in the area where the person died before they’re issued to you. This means you’ll usually wait a few days."

To register the death you need the medical certificate from the hospital, signed by the doctor (check it before taking away) and then an appointment at the registry office (mine insist on an appointment, but have various slots depending on marriages etc). Very slim chance to get one this week I'd think.

Our experience was that it took nearly a month on a couple of occasions over the last few years. It will vary dependent on where you are, our experience was Nottingham with a quicker resolution travelling to offices further north.

leylandsunaddict

I had to make an appointment to register my mums death. I can't remember exactly how long I waited, but it certainly wasn't within a matter of a few days.

soolin

OP I am sorry for your loss

When my dad died 5 years ago in London we could get a death certificate within 24 hours, no appointment needed. My Mum died 18 months ago in North London and I had to make a next day appointment because the registry office was closed one day a week for some odd reason. There was no problem though in getting an appointment within 48 hours.

Actually looking here, it has to be registered within 5 days unless reported to the coroners office:

A death should be registered within five days but registration can be delayed for another nine days if the registrar is told that a medical certificate has been issued. If the death has been reported to the coroner you cannot register it until the coroner's investigations are finished.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/relationships/death-and-wills/what-to-do-after-a-death/

TonyMMM

Registration Offices have capacity to deal with urgent death registrations -they are needed to cater for the requirements of certain cultures and religions, and the occasional "walk in" person who attends without an appointment.

Saint_Chris

Sorry for your loss
my uncle passed on Monday morning at 9.30am, I got an apt for 12.30pm to register his death and had done it by 1.00pm, by 4.00pm I had his funeral organised and at night I had cancelled a lot of his pensions and stuff.
He only had 3 elderly sisters and they couldn't do it, so I did it whilst I was off work on Monday.

vegasvisitor

Yes, it certainly depends on the local office and how busy they are and when they can fit you in.

As the trip is only for 5 days, could you consider going and having the funeral shortly after you return? The funeral directors will take care of most of the necessary, so there shouldn't be much to do. I say this, because when my mum died I had a 3 night trip booked and when I mentioned to the undertakers that I was supposed to be going away but wasn't going to bother, they suggested I just go.

sheramber

bigadaj wrote: »

There can be long delays in many areas of the country, a couple of weeks isn't uncommon unless you travel to an office that's less busy.

How does that square with the GOV.UK site saying you must register a death within 5 days?

jackieblack

sheramber wrote: »

How does that square with the GOV.UK site saying you must register a death within 5 days?

When my grandmother died last year we couldn't get an appointment at the registry office until 9 days after she'd died.
Didn't seem to be an issue.

At the end of the day you can't register a death within 5 days if you can't see a registrar in order to do so :huh:

bigadaj

sheramber wrote: »

How does that square with the GOV.UK site saying you must register a death within 5 days?

Well presumably you keep evidence that you attempted to register the death in a timely manner, the inability to do so is then down to lack of government resource so you can't really be blamed for that.

Flugelhorn

bigadaj wrote: »

Well presumably you keep evidence that you attempted to register the death in a timely manner, the inability to do so is then down to lack of government resource so you can't really be blamed for that.

reckon if you contact them to book the appointment within 5 days then they can't complain