To Report a Bereavement
According to Halacha (Jewish law), funerals must be held as soon as possible after death.Please call so that we can guide you through this process
Contacting the Burial Society to report a death:
Monday to Thursday – 9am till 5.30pm – 020 8202 2263
Out of hours: 020 4548 8563
The out of hours number is not monitored from 1hr before, until 1hr after, Shabbos or Yom Tov.
Please leave a message if you are unable to reach us, messages will be returned as soon as possible.
In the event of a bereavement:
- The first step is to obtain a medical cause of death certificate from the GP or hospital under whose care the deceased was receiving treatment.
- Please arrange to obtain the medical cause of death certificate as soon as possible. The certificate should be sent directly by the GP, to the local authorities Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner will check the certificate and will then contact the next of kin to verify the details.
- After the Medical Examiner has verified the certificate, they will forward it to the local authority Registrar of deaths.
- As soon as the certificate has been sent, contact the relevant registry office (preferably online) to book a telephone appointment to register the death legally.
- The registrar issues two certificates:
- Authorisation of Burial (Green Form) – this authorises us to conduct a funeral. Without it we are not allowed to proceed. Please note that this form can be issued even before the appointment to formally register the death. It should be sent directly by the registrar to the Burial Society at burial@federation.org.uk
- Legal Death Certificate – this may be issued even after the funeral. There is no need to wait for its issuance.
Please do not telephone the out of hours emergency line unless you need to report a death. All other enquiries should be made within office hours.