Any death that occurs in Scotland must be registered within 8 days of the death, unless the Procurator Fiscal’s involvement prevents this. At the time of making the funeral arrangements we will give you detailed advice on registering your loved one’s death.
18-20 City Square, Dundee.
01382 435222
Monday to Friday: 8:45am - 4:45pm
Registrars will advise on location.
03451 550077
Times and days vary
You can register a death at any registration office in Scotland. It does not need to be the district where the person lived or died. For local registrars, please see contact details above. After a person passes away, a medical professional will issue a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). This document, which is necessary for registration, will be emailed to the registrars by the doctor. Once the registrar has received the death certificate, they can arrange an appointment over the phone at a convenient time for you to register the death.
The following documents or information will require to be given to the registrar: Death Certificate, Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate (if relevant). Information Required by the Registrar: (Full name of deceased, date of birth, usual residence, occupation, marital status, full name and occupation of father/parent, full name, maiden name (if appropriate) and occupation of mother/parent, medical practitioners address).
Once the registration is complete, the registrar will: Send by email, an electronic copy of the ‘Form 14’ (certificate of registration of death) directly to us. Post an abbreviated death certificate to you (free of charge). Post a copy of the full extract if requested (£10 per copy) - these may be required by insurance companies, banks or building societies. The original Death Certificate is retained by the Registrar.
The “Tell Us Once” service is a government initiative that allows families to report a death to multiple government departments in one go. When someone passes away, instead of contacting each agency separately, you can provide the necessary information to a single point of contact. This helps simplify the process during a difficult time.
A registrar will explain the Tell Us Once service when you register the death. They may complete the Tell Us Once service with you or give you a unique reference number so you can use the service yourself online or by phone.
This includes:
If you do not use Tell Us Once you need to tell the relevant organisations about the death yourself.
At home
If your loved one passes away naturally at home, you will need to contact their doctor to confirm the death, or contact a funeral director who will guide you through the process. If their doctor has attended them recently, it may not be necessary to have your loved one removed immediately, should you wish to spend some more time with them.
In Hospital or Care Home
If your loved one passes away in hospital or in a care home, the staff will be able to take care of initial arrangements and can often contact the funeral director of your choice.
Suddenly or unexpected
If your loved one passes away unexpectedly, by accident, in a public place or in unusual circumstances, then government agencies will need to be informed. Your funeral director will be involved and will be able to give advice on what to expect and how to proceed.
A funeral director will assist families with all aspects of funeral planning and arrangements. We will provide transportation, care, and preparation of your loved one, as well as the legal and administrative tasks. The funeral director will offer guidance on the different funeral service options that we offer and organise the funeral service, including venue, officiant, and any special requests.
For more information on registering a death, click here.
The officiant of the service, is typically a priest, minister, celebrant, or humanist who will lead the service and deliver the eulogy, depending on the nature of the ceremony.
In some cases. it can be a family member or a friend may also be invited to offer a personal eulogy, sharing memories and honouring the life of their loved one.
The costs of a funeral can vary immensely, as it really is as individual as the life that person lived. There are some fixed costs that apply to the practicalities of the process, and variable costs dependent on the type of service you would like. The cost of a funeral is divided into two parts. The professional fees, these are fees for the services of the funeral director and disbursements, fees that are paid on your behalf to a third party.
The choice of service depends on personal, cultural, and religious preferences.
Funeral services typically include a service at the funeral home, church, or other appropriate venues such as function suites, followed by a burial or cremation
A burial service can be held at your chosen venue followed by a burial or they can be held at the graveside, where the ceremony will take place in cemetery.
Cremation services can be held at a funeral home, church or the crematorium, followed by the cremation. Cremation provides families with several options for the cremated remains. These can be kept in an urn at home as a personal memorial, interred in a cemetery or memorial garden, or scattered in a meaningful location.
A memorial service can be held without your loved one being present, for example if the cremation or burial has already taken place or if your loved one is donated to medical research. This can be held shortly after the death or at a later time, providing flexibility for those who need more time to gather and grieve. Memorial services often include readings, music, personal tributes, and speeches from family and friends.
A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As customers often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family. A plan from Golden Charter also includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.
At James Ashton & Son Ltd, we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a simple way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers*, Golden Charter has helped 900,000 people make funeral provisions** so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to you.
Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all UK residents regardless of age or state of health.
*Based on a Golden Charter analysis and independent research of the funeral plan market size as at January 2023.
**Correct at March 2023.
Dundee Bus Station is situated a short walk from the city centre and is open 7 days a week. The station has a waiting area and a cafe, and there are also a number of shops nearby. Dundee bus station offers routes all across Scotland and the rest of the UK, offering services from Stagecoach and Megabus.
Following a renovation in 2014, Dundee Train Station offers a range of quick routes across Scotland, as well as links to the rest of the UK. The station operates 7 days a week and has a number of indoor and outdoor waiting areas, a shop and an attached hotel.
Dundee has a large number of taxi companies which operate across the city and neighbouring postcodes. Search for Dundee taxis online to find the phone numbers of your local branch.
If you would like to get more information or have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch and we'll be happy to help.