A Step-By-Step Guide from Suffolk Direct Cremations
Losing a loved one is an emotional and difficult time. Knowing what steps to take can help ease the burden. This guide provides clear instructions and useful resources for families in Suffolk and surrounding areas, ensuring you have support every step of the way.
1. Notify the Relevant Authorities
At Home:
In a Hospital or Care Home:
2. Contact a Funeral Director
Once the death has been confirmed, you will need to arrange for your loved one to be taken into care. Suffolk Direct Cremations provides compassionate, professional services, ensuring everything is handled with care, dignity, and respect.
We offer affordable direct cremation services with transparent pricing, and our team is here to guide you through the process with understanding and support.
3. The Death Certification Process
Under current regulations:
- A Medical Examiner will review the circumstances of the death and either approve the death certificate or refer the case to a coroner.
- If referred, the coroner will determine whether a further investigation is needed.
4. Registering the Death
A death must be registered within five days. You will need:
- The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (issued by a doctor).
- Personal details of the deceased (full name, date and place of birth, address, and occupation).
- Details of a spouse or civil partner, if applicable.
Registration takes place at a local register office, and you will receive the death certificate and necessary paperwork to proceed with funeral arrangements.
5. Arranging the Funeral
Once the death has been registered, you can begin making funeral arrangements. Suffolk Direct Cremations offers a simple and dignified direct cremation service, ensuring your loved one is treated with care and respect.
Our Service Includes:
- Collection and care of your loved one within a 30-mile radius of Suffolk.
- Completion of all necessary paperwork.
- A simple unattended cremation at a local crematorium.
- Ashes returned within seven working days
We understand that saying goodbye is personal, and many families choose to hold their own memorial or celebration of life at a time and place that suits them.
6. Handling Legal and Financial Matters
- Notify banks, insurance providers, and pension services about the death.
- If there is a will, contact a solicitor or the Probate Office to begin the legal process.
- If there is no will, intestacy laws will determine how the estate is distributed.
7. Seek Bereavement Support
Grief affects everyone differently, and support is available to help you cope. Reach out to family, friends, or professional bereavement counsellors.
- Cruse Bereavement Support – Free helpline: 0808 808 1677 | www.cruse.org.uk
- Samaritans – Free 24/7 helpline: 116 123 | www.samaritans.org
- East Sussex Bereavement Services – Support for local families | www.eastsussex.gov.uk
Additional Guidance
Coroner Involvement
A coroner may be involved if:
- The death was sudden, unexplained, or accidental.
- The deceased was not under medical care.
If required, a post-mortem or inquest may take place before funeral arrangements can proceed.
Tell Us Once Service
The Tell Us Once service helps notify government departments about the death, including:
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (for pensions and benefits).
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (for tax and National Insurance).
- DVLA (to cancel driving licences and update vehicle ownership).
- Passport Office (to cancel passports).
- Local Council Services (to update records on council tax, Blue Badges, and electoral rolls).
This service is usually offered when you register the death.
Useful Contacts in Suffolk and Surrounding Areas
Hospitals
Ipswich Hospital
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Location
Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD.
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Phone
01473 712233
West Suffolk Hospital
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Location
Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ.
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Phone
01284713000
Registrar Offices
Ipswich Register Office
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Location
St Peter House, 16 Grimwade Street, Ipswich, IP4 1LP.
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Email
ipswich.registrars
@suffolk.gov.uk -
Phone
0345 607 2050
Bury St Edmunds Register Office
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Location
Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU.
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Email
bury.registrars
@suffolk.gov.uk -
Phone
0345 607 2060
Lowestoft Register Office
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Location
Clapham Road South, Lowestoft, NR32 1QS.
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Email
lowestoft.registrars
@suffolk.gov.uk -
Phone
0345 607 2070
Sudbury Register Office
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Location
The Town Hall, Old Market Place, Sudbury, CO10 1TL
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Email
sudbury.registrars
@suffolk.gov.uk -
Phone
0345 607 2060
Stowmarket Register Office
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Location
Milton House, Milton Road South, Stowmarket, IP14 1EZ.
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Email
stowmarket.registrars
@suffolk.gov.uk -
Phone
0345 607 2080
Woodbridge Register Office
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Location
26a Quayside, Woodbridge, IP12 1BH.
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Email
woodbridge.registrars
@suffolk.gov.uk -
Phone
0345 607 2090
Coroners
Coroner's Service
For information about the Coroner service in Suffolk, including contact details, please visit the Suffolk County Council website.
Bereavement Support in East Sussex
East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust Bereavement Service:
Provides support at both Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals.
Ipswich Hospital Bereavement Office
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Open
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
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Email
Bereavement@esneft.nhs.uk
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Phone
01473 704 498
Colchester Hospital Bereavement Office
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Open
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
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Email
Mortuary&Bereavement@esneft.nhs.uk
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Phone
01206744245
For additional support, national organizations such as Cruse Bereavement Support (0808 808 1677) and the Samaritans (116 123) offer assistance to those dealing with loss.
Suffolk Direct Cremations – Here to Support You
When the time comes to make arrangements, Suffolk Direct Cremations is here to provide compassionate, professional care.
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Affordable, dignified direct cremations
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Local care – your loved one stays within Suffolk
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Transparent pricing with no hidden costs