funeral ARRANGEMENTS in Magherafelt

Processing the loss of a close friend or family member can be made more stressful if you've never experienced death before. McCusker Bros in Magherafelt, we're here to lend you a helping hand, guiding you through each step of the funeral planning process and offering heartfelt support and guidance when necessary.

White Coffin, wreath, candle in the Catholic Church

What to do after a death

If a person dies at home or in a nursing home

After a person has died, you will need to contact their Doctor or the out of hours duty Doctor. If the death was in a nursing home, the staff at the home will arrange for this to be done.

Once the Doctor has confirmed that death has taken place and given permission for the deceased to be moved, you may ring your chosen Funeral Director.

We will ask you for the deceased's full name, place of death and for the next of kin's or executor's contact details. Once this information has been given we will arrange for our staff to move the deceased to our Chapel of Rest.

We offer a 24-hour service, 365 days of the year so can be called at any time day or night. If you have called the duty doctor out, you will need to speak to the deceased's own Doctor the next working day to find out when the medical cause of death certificate will be available.
If a person dies in hospital

If a person dies in hospital then the hospital Doctor will confirm death. You will need to speak to the Bereavement Office or Patient Affairs at the hospital to find out when the medical cause of death certificate will be available. You may contact the Funeral Director before you have been to collect the certificate if you wish.
HM Coroner

If the death was sudden, unexpected or the Doctor is unable to issue a medical cause of death certificate then it will be reported to the Coroner.

The Coroner's Officer will contact the family and keep them informed of what is happening.
They will decide whether there will need to be a post mortem examination. They will also advise you as to when you will be able to register the death and will send the paperwork direct to the Registrar's Office for you to collect the Copy of the Entry.

If the Coroner decides that an inquest is necessary, they will usually be able to issue the forms required for the funeral to go ahead by opening the inquest for the purpose of the identification of the deceased and then adjourn it until further investigations have taken place.

First steps

REGISTERING A DEATH

Registering the death of a loved one is now done over the phone due to Covid 19. The registry office in the area in which the individual died will phone the next of kin. To register the death, a simple interview with the registrar is all that is required.

If a coroner is involved, you'll be advised of when to register the death. The registrar will require the following information about the deceased:

Full name
Marital status
Date of birth
Place of birth
Occupation
Maiden name (if female and married)
Spouse's name
Spouse's date of birth
Spouse's occupation

The registrar will issue you with a certificate for burial or cremation (GRO21).

Certified copies of the entry of death can also be issued the registrar, you will need these for official purposes including insurers, closing bank accounts and pension schemes. A charge is made by the registrar for certified copies.

Acknowledgements and notices

Wooden coffin with funeral flowers in crematorium

PAYING FOR THE FUNERAL

If you're on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral, you may be able to get a funeral payment from the social fund. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died.

Who is eligible?

You may be able to get a funeral payment but it depends on the benefits you're getting, your relationship with the person who died and any other money, other than your personal savings, that may be available to help with the cost of the funeral.

Benefits and tax credits

You may be eligible for a funeral payment from the social fund if you or your partner are getting any of the following benefits or tax credits: