How can I find out details of someone’s death?

ellectrastar

My mother-in-law has passed away. Her partner did not contact us to tell us and has apparently banned us from the funeral. She lived at the other end of the country so not easy to find any details out. It’s very upsetting. Is there a way of finding out details of what happened to her, and when the funeral is? Obviously we won’t be attending but we’d like to do our own thing on that day to remember her. At the very least I think my husband has the right to know what happened to his own Mum. 

(I could try and contact a family member but it has been suggested they all feel the same way and my husband has asked me not too and I don’t want to upset him by stirring anything up.) 

Grumpelstiltskin

Try ringing the funeral directors local to here she lived to see if they are dealing with the funeral.

Also look for local newspapers online.

Which part oof the UK did she live in?  Rules for getting a copy of the death certificate vary.

RAS

Presumably you know where she lived? Try ringing the Registrars?

TonyMMM

Death certificates are public records - available to anyone.

Your husband can get one by contacting the registration office in the district in which she died. But that won't tell you where/when the funeral is going to be ....try ringing the nearest crematorium.

ellectrastar

She was in Scotland. 

I tried the local paper but it didn’t have an obituary section online. I can give them a ring tomorrow, as well as the local funeral directors. 

She didn’t originate from Scotland but I am assuming this is where she’ll be buried or cremated. 

Is getting a copy of the death certificate the only way of finding out the cause of death? I’m guessing it probably is, unless the funeral directors would be able to tell us??

Grumpelstiltskin

These are the details for Scottish deaths.

Order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate - mygov.scot

RAS

It is easier to find death certificates on scotlandspeople because the index includes mother's maiden name. They got way behind during Covid, but previously I found one there which referred to someone who'd only died 10 days earlier.

Pennylane

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Try ringing the funeral directors local to here she lived to see if they are dealing with the funeral.

Also look for local newspapers online.

Which part oof the UK did she live in?  Rules for getting a copy of the death certificate vary.

How did the OP find out their  MIL had passed away then?

Doubtful whether funeral directors would give out information.  All our family agreed that we did not want a family member at our funeral so we warned the FD.  This person had upset everybody, had ignored the deceased for several years, had reported us to every official body they could think of (to no avail) and had stolen from the deceased.  

Keep_pedalling

Your MIL’s partner may very well be trying to keep your husband away from attending to avoid him finding out about his legal rights under Scottish law. Even if she had a will leaving everything to her partner he (and any siblings) are entitled to a share of her movable assets (all of them if she was not married to the partner).

elsien

If you think it’s likely she’s going to be cremated, then phone up the crematoriums closest to her. It’s a matter of public record and there is nothing to stop them from telling you if there is a cremation booked for her. I have done this myself in the past. 

ellectrastar

Pennylane said:

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Try ringing the funeral directors local to here she lived to see if they are dealing with the funeral.

Also look for local newspapers online.

Which part oof the UK did she live in?  Rules for getting a copy of the death certificate vary.

How did the OP find out their  MIL had passed away then?

Personal information really and kind of irrelevant to my question.