Online Obituaries & Death Notices in the UK (2024)

FAQs

Online Obituaries & Death Notices in the UK? ›

Death records in the UK are public, and you can access information online through platforms like GOV.UK, publicrecordsearch.co.uk, and deceasedonline.com. Here at Union Wills, we are developing our own free death record search tool, enhancing the resources available to you.

Death records in the UK are public, and you can access information online through platforms like GOV.UK, publicrecordsearch.co.uk, and deceasedonline.com. Here at Union Wills, we are developing our own free death record search tool, enhancing the resources available to you.

Most commonly you can find death notices (or obituaries) in UK newspapers, both printed copies and online. Local newspapers will often contain notices for those who've passed away in the local area but national newspapers, such as The Times and The Telegraph, also run obituaries.

Some funeral directors list recent and upcoming funerals (for example, Co-operative Funeralcare). If you know where the deceased lived and died, you can also contact local funeral homes for information. Otherwise, you may be able to find details of a funeral online at sites such as: Funeral Notices.

Here are a few examples of an obituary introduction: o 'Dorothy Brown, 80, died peacefully at home on September 15th, surrounded by friends and family. She was born…' o 'It is with great sadness that the family of Dorothy Brown shares the news of her passing on September 15th, at the age of 80.

The GRO provides a public index that lists basic details of every death recorded in England and Wales since 1837. The index is divided into four quarters for each year. Death indexes are also available to search on FreeBMD.

In this scenario, ideally the patient's GP should see the patient, in person or via video, as soon as possible so they can write the death certificate. If the GP is unable to write the death certificate, it is their responsibility to either locate the medical practitioner who can or refer to the coroner.

You need to register on the General Register Office ( GRO ) website to get a copy of a birth, adoption, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate in England and Wales. You can use this service to research your family tree. Order with the GRO index reference number.

How many days after death is a funeral in UK? ›

How long after death does a funeral typically take place? In the UK, a funeral is typically held around one or two weeks after the death, although the actual time may depend on many factors including personal preference, religion and the Funeral Director or crematoria's availability.

It is illegal to linger after a funeral – UK law states

This comes after 2015 when a man stayed an extra 20 minutes at his wife's funeral and was charged a harsh £160 just so gravediggers could continue with their work.

Usually, a body can stay in the mortuary at the funeral home or hospital for as long as needed before the funeral. Cold temperatures in the mortuary help to preserve a body but like with embalming, it won't stop nature from taking its course eventually.

When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.

Is placing a deceased estates notice essential? It's not a legal requirement to place a deceased estates notice, but it is advisable, and most solicitors place them as a matter of course (in a 2016 Gazette survey, 80 per cent of probate professionals always placed one if acting as professional executor).

Publishing an obituary can be expensive , and the funds may be unavailable. The deceased has few family members or friends , so there might have, unfortunately, been no need for an obituary. Obituaries are also written for the living so that they may learn of an individual's passing.

The full date of death is stated for the person on the certificate. Under normal circ*mstances this will not include the time of death.