Registering a Death

Registering a Death in Kilkee, Clare

Funeral Arrangements?

The choice of a firm of funeral directors is important, as you should feel comfortable and confident with them. They may be known to you personally, may be recommended by a friend, your GP or religious advisor or may have a long established good reputation in your area. They are here to help you and your family through a very difficult and traumatic time. You will find them approachable and sincere in ensuring the arrangements that need to be made will run as smoothly as possible. The National Association of Funeral Directors and the Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors both have a code practice and members of these can provide an estimate of costs - their own and those fees they will pay on your behalf and add to the account.

Your funeral director can make all the arrangements for the funeral, burial or cremation, religious or secular service. Unfortunately it is a common misconception that you can only contact a funeral director once the death has been registered, this is not the case and we advise you to contact the funeral director as soon as possible.

They are professional, experienced and above all helpful and comforting for you and your family at this most difficult time.

Call the funeral directors opposite, who are on hand to help you now.

 

Legal Advice & Probate?

The process of administering the estate of the deceased person can involve extremely complex legal issues and technicalities. There are a whole host of different legal situations that can arise and this is where the immediate assistance of an experienced legal firm will help. It is of paramount importance that you receive legal advice at the earliest opportunity. The solicitors will be able to explain things to you in lay mans terms and be able to advise you upon whatever the circumstances of the estate are. Clearly it is also of the utmost importance to families that the estate is administered efficiently and sympathetically as obtaining probate can very often be a very lengthy process, please be aware of this. A specialist solicitor within the firm who may also be a STEP consultant, (a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) will be able to help you and will be experienced in assisting families through the process. What if there is no will?

In the first instance call the Solicitors firm opposite today, explain the circumstances and arrange an appointment with the solicitor to discuss the situation. It is safer in the long run because of the various laws that affect who is entitled to wind up the estate and receive the money.

Property?

Generally the most valuable asset the bereaved will inherit is a property. This will need to be valued for probate purposes to ascertain a correct value, that may well have an impact upon any Inheritance Tax payable. You may wish or need to raise capital against the property to pay care, rest or nursing home fees. Furthermore, after valuation there may be the intention to sell the property and distribute the legacies to the relatives.

You will require the assistance of a local member of either the OEA, Ombudsmen of Estate Agents, NAEA National Association of Estate Agents or RICS Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. They will know the local area well and will be able to provide an accurate, necessary, valuation for an appropriate fee. If they also sell property, the fee paid is normally deducted from any fees due when they have sold the property for you.

Call the firm opposite who will be able to advise you on the next step and who are experienced in dealing with property in probate circumstances for this area of the country.

Financial Advice?

If you are the ‘executor’ of a will, ‘trustee’ of a trust, or ‘administrator’ of an estate, you may well have a small, medium or large sum of money to deal with. It may just be the case of distributing the sum to the beneficiaries of the estate, for them to do what they want.

However, the beneficiaries may be too young or financially naïve, to know what they should do. They will be looking to you to do what is best for them, and of course you will want to do what is best for them. But how financially aware are you? Do you know all that is available to you in the financial services market?

The answer is probably no.

You may have inherited a large sum of money personally, do you really know what to do next? A new mortgage? A new or larger pension? School fee planning? Investments???

This is where you need the help of a Financial Adviser. They will be able to show you what the most suitable investments for you are and do what is required under guidance from you, explaining things in simple terms. In these turbulent times the need for advice regarding finance has never been more important. Speak to the firm above today, who are qualified and experienced in this field.

Floral Tributes?

Flowers are the most internationally recognised silent symbol of love. At this time undoubtedly every family wants the best for their loved one and the choice of flower, style and colour is enormous.

You may consider many different options for the coffin, cars, church, crematorium and perhaps even dressing the venue for your funeral wake or tea.

This is where a professional local experienced florist can help. They will be able to guide you through the many beautiful designs available, choice of flowers and discuss bespoke arrangements with you, remember, they will have helped many families before and indeed they are here to help you now.

Call the florist opposite today to organise the appropriate funeral flowers.

Catering?

There will be many catering options available for the funeral wake or tea and this is where you will require the assistance of an outside catering firm who is experienced in funeral teas.

They will be able to assist you upon the variety of menu choices available, help you plan ahead for the amount of guests who will be attending, discuss costs and generally put your mind at ease with the catering arrangements.

The starting point is to call the catering firm opposite today to discuss your individual requirements.

Monumental Masonry?

If you are considering placing a headstone or an additional inscription upon an existing one, most crematoriums will advise you to wait for a period of approximately six months before placing it.

However we suggest you contact the mason as soon as is convenient to arrange whatever is necessary, to discuss what is available and importantly to avoid any unnecessary delay after this initial waiting period.

Most monumental masons are members of either the National Association of Memorial Masons and or the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons, who ensure the highest standards of craftsmanship and professionalism within the industry.

We suggest that you use the member firm opposite.

Funeral Wake or Tea?

These are often necessarily arranged at short notice and there are several areas to consider.

Will you require a large or small venue or room? What choice of catering arrangements? Bar? Disabled access? Car parking? Possibly accommodation for relatives who may have to travel far for the funeral?

 

A larger hotel or function venue can usually accommodate all of these requirements and will have the experienced staff on hand together with the facilities needed to ensure a dignified time for everyone attending the event. We appreciate this may be a very difficult time for you, please call the venue opposite, they are experienced and will help put your mind at ease with whatever arrangements may be necessary for your family.

 

Auctioneers & Valuers?

The contents of the property will have to be valued for probate, in some circumstances there will be single or possibly multiple items of great financial value that may have to be valued for probate purposes.

These could include items of jewellery, antique furniture, ceramics, paintings etc. An accurate up to date valuation will need to be obtained for probate, this is where the services of local qualified auctioneers and valuers will be able to help you.

For the appropriate fee, they will be able to provide accurate acceptable valuations for probate and indeed insurance purposes, they may also if required, be able to either purchase or dispose of any unwanted items on your behalf.

Speak to the professionals opposite today for expert advice on what to do next.

Tax?

If the person who died was paying tax on income from investments or as a self-employed person or as an employee, tell the tax office about their death as soon as possible. This will enable you the deceased’s tax affairs to be settled. Depending upon the circumstances, this may involve some more tax or claiming repayment.

The particular tax office to contact will depend upon the deceased’s circumstances. For instance:

• If the deceased was an employee or had a pension from a former employer, the pay section of the employer or pension organisation will know the deceased’s tax office.

• If the deceased was self-employed, contact the tax office nearest to the place of business.

• If the deceased was unemployed, or retired without a pension from a former employer, contact the tax office nearest to the home address.

• If the deceased was the owner of a business or Limited Company there could be other implications and requirements that have to be addressed.

We advise you to contact the firm of accountants above as soon as possible, they will be members of either the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and will be able to assist you with the legalities and complexities of organising the tax and or business interests of the deceased.

Call and arrange an appointment with them now.

Nursing / Care / Rest Homes?

During this time it may be necessary for a relative to be re-located to either a nursing, rest or care home.

The homes will generally be able to offer short term care commonly called 'respite', or indeed if the circumstances require, long term care to suit your families individual needs.

Remember that these venues facilitate families difficult circumstances continually and will be able to put your mind at ease regarding arranging the care for a loved one.

We suggest telephoning them in the first instance to discuss what options are available to you and to gain a better understanding of the process and costs involved and the facilities that they have to offer.

Bereavement Counselling?

Many people find that leading upto and following a family bereavement they need to talk through their grief. You may still have many questions which remain to be answered.  

Trained bereavement counsellors try to help ease the distress of bereavement through providing a caring and sensitive service.

We realise that at this sad time family and friends would have been too distressed to take in all the information that may have been given to them verbally and may need to discuss their situation with someone who is unbiased and impartial.

The professionals opposite specialise in helping individuals through the grieving process and remember they will have helped many people before.

We recommend that you call them today and see if they can offer you some comfort through this difficult process.

 

 

Procedures For The Civil Registration Of A Death

 

As from the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 on 5 December 2005, the applicable procedures for the registration of a death within the state are as follows;

1. Under Section 42 of the Act, upon the death of a person following an illness, a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during the illness must complete and sign Part 1 of the Death Notification Form, stating to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the cause of death. Part 1 of the form concerns general details of the deceased and incorporates the medical cause of death details.

2. Section 42 also provides that the registered medical practitioner must give the Death Notification Form to a relative of the deceased, provided a relative exists and that relative is capable of acting as a qualified informant (see #4 below).

3. Under Section 37 (1) of the Act, the relative must complete and sign Part 2 of the form, which concerns additional personal details of the deceased. Upon completion of Part 2, the relative must give the form to any Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages as soon as possible but no later than three months from the date of death. In order to complete the registration, the relative is required to sign the Register of Deaths in the presence of a Registrar.

4. Under Section 37 (1) (a) and for the purpose of these procedures, the term “relative who is capable of acting as a qualified informant” means a relative of the deceased (whether by blood or by marriage) who has knowledge of the required particulars in relation to the death and who is not incapable of complying with these procedures by reason of ill- health.

5. Where the registered medical practitioner can find no relative of the deceased who is capable of acting as a qualified informant, the Death Notification Form should be given to the Chief Officer (or to an officer authorised by the Chief Officer) of the hospital (if the death occurred in a hospital) or to an Undertaker or other qualified informant (see below) in cases where the death did not occur in a hospital.

6. Where a death occurred in a hospital or other institution, organisation or enterprise, it is incumbent on the Chief Officer or authorised person to satisfy him or herself that a relative can be found to carry out the obligation to register the death. If it is ascertained that no relative who is capable of acting as a qualified informant can be found, the Chief Officer or authorised person should assume the role of qualified informant, complete and sign Part 2 of the Death Notification Form, give it to a Registrar and sign the Register. The death should be registered as soon as possible after the event, but no later than three months from the date of death.

7. Where a death occurred other than in a hospital or other institution and the Death Notification Form has been given by a registered medical practitioner to a qualified informant who is not a relative of the deceased, it is incumbent on that person to satisfy him or herself that a relative can be found to carry out the obligation to register the death. If it is ascertained that no relative who is capable of acting as a qualified informant can be found, the qualified informant who is in possession of the Death Notification Form must complete and sign Part 2 of the form, give it to a Registrar and sign the Register. The death should be registered as soon as possible after the event, but no later that three months from the date of death.

8. Under Section 37 (2) of the Act, where more than 3 months have elapsed since the date of death, any qualified informant who receives a Death Notification Form from a registered medical practitioner must complete and sign Part 2 of the form, give it to a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and sign the Register of Deaths in the presence of the Registrar.

9. Section 41 of the Act provides that deaths occurring due to causes other than illness, or where there was no medical attendance prior to the death, are to be referred to the Coroner who will make arrangements to have the death registered.

10. A person who fails to comply with the requirements of the Civil Registration Act 2004 may be guilty of an offence.

Who Must Register A Death?

The Civil Registration Act 2004 places a duty firstly on a relative of the deceased (whether by blood or by marriage) who has knowledge of the required particulars in relation to the death and who is not incapable of complying with these procedures by reason of ill- health to register the deceased's details within 3 months of the death . The relative does not have to be the next-of-kin (for example, a widow may ask another family member to register the details)

If no such relative exists or can be found each other qualified informant has a duty to register the death. Where a qualified informant (other than a relative) knows that no relative of the deceased exists who is capable of registering the death, he or she must register the death as soon as possible after the Death Notification Form is in their possession. Where, within 3 months of the death, such a qualified informant knows of the whereabouts of a relative capable of registering the death, the form must be given to that relative, who must then register the death.

A death that has not been registered within 3 months of the event may be registered by any qualified informant

Qualified Informants

·       A relative of the deceased who has knowledge of the required particulars concerned. (Has a duty to register the death within 3 months)

·       A person present at the death

         Any other person who has knowledge of the required particulars,

·      If the death occurred in a building used as a dwelling or a part of a building so used, any person who was in the building or part at the time of the death,

·      If the death occurred in a hospital or other institution or in a building or a part of a building occupied by any other organisation or enterprise, the chief officer of the institution, organisation or enterprise (by whatever name called) or a person authorised by the chief officer to perform his or her functions.

·      A person who found the body of the person concerned.

·      A person who took charge of that body.

·      A person who procured the disposal of that body, or

·      Any other person who has knowledge of the death.

         

The Details Required For Registration:

·       Date and place of death*.

·       Place of birth of deceased.

·       Sex of deceased.

·       Forename(s), surname, birth surname and address of deceased.

·       Personal public service number of deceased.

·       Marital Status of deceased.

·       Date of birth or age last birthday of deceased.

·       Profession or occupation of deceased.

·       If deceased was married, the profession or occupation of spouse.

·       If deceased was less than 18 years of age on date of death, occupation(s) of his or her parent(s) of guardian(s).

·       Forename(s) and birth surname of father of deceased.

·       Forename(s) and birth surname of mother of deceased.

·       Certificated cause of death, duration of illness and date of certificate*.

·       Forename, surname, place of business, daytime telephone number and qualification of registered medical practitioner who signed certificate.

·       Forename(s), surname, qualification, address and signature of informant.

·       If an inquest in relation to the death or a post-mortem examination of the body of deceased was held, the forename, surname and place of business of coroner concerned.

·       Date of registration.

·       Signature of Qualified Informant

·       Signature of registrar.

* These details must be supplied as part of the medical cause of death.

Upon the death of a person following an illness, a registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased during the illness must complete and sign Part 1 of the Death Notification Form, stating to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the medical cause of death . Part 1 of the form concerns general details of the deceased and incorporates the medical cause of death details.

Upon completion of Part 1 of the form, the registered medical practitioner must give the form to a relative or other qualified informant. Subject to the circumstances outlined above, the qualified informant should either give the form to a relative who is capable of registering the death or should complete Part 2 of the form.

Completed Death Notification Forms must be given to any Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In order to complete the registration process, the Registrar must enter the details in the Register of Deaths, confirm the details entered with the qualified informant and get the qualified informant to sign the Register. Immediately upon completion of the registration process, a death certificate can issue.

If the deceased was not seen by a doctor prior to the terminal illness or if s/he died as a result of an accident or in violent or unexplained circumstances the death must be referred to the Coroner, in which case the death will be registered on foot of a certificate issued by the Coroner to the Registrar containing all the details to be registered.

Please note that a death referred to a coroner is not a matter for the registration service and any issues arising should be referred to the coroner concerned, the local authority concerned or the Department of Justice and Law Reform (72/76 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.Tel: (01) 602 8202. Fax: (01) 661 5461.Lo-call: 1890 221 227.

Where Must The Death Be Registered

As from 5 December 2005, you can now register at the office that is most convenient for you or nearest to your home/work/business address. 

Unfortunately, we do not currently have the contact details for this District Register Office in our database.