When someone dies
East Durham Funeral Service. 24 hour line: 0191 586 4322. Four funeral homes across East Durham.
Losing someone close is hard, and the practical tasks can feel like too much. Call us at any hour and our experienced team will talk you through what happens next, whatever the circumstances.
First steps
Ring 0191 586 4322 at any time. We will listen, explain what needs to happen and answer your questions.
Once a doctor has attended, or the hospital or care home is ready, we make the arrangements to bring your loved one into our care.
You can come and see us about the funeral before the death is registered. We will guide you through each decision.
Every situation is different
Choose the situation closest to yours. If you are unsure, call us and we will help you work it out.
Call their GP. The doctor will confirm the death and, in due course, issue the medical certificate showing the cause of death. Once the doctor has been, call us and we will bring your loved one into our care.
If you would like them to stay at home for a little while, tell us as soon as you can and we will guide you.
If the doctor cannot give a cause of death, they will inform the Coroner, who will arrange for an examination. We work alongside the Coroner's office, providing our private ambulance service to bring people who die suddenly to the hospital mortuary, and we are often asked to do so by the police.
Most deaths are found to have natural causes, so an inquest is usually not needed. If a post mortem is required, we liaise with the Coroner and keep you informed. We can often set a provisional funeral date, and you can visit our Chapel of Rest once your loved one is back in our care.
The hospital bereavement team will support you and tell you where your nearest register office is. Once you have called us, we contact the hospital or care home and make the arrangements for you.
Alongside them, we are here to offer emotional support and practical advice about what to do next.
If your loved one needs to be brought home to East Durham, call us straight away. We arrange our private ambulance service to bring them into our care at one of our Chapels of Rest, at Peterlee or Trimdon Grange, and organise the documents needed.
Where necessary, we liaise with the Foreign Office, the insurance company and the local Coroner's office for you.
Nothing can ease the loss of a child, but you do not have to face it alone. We will help with the practical arrangements and the legal steps, and look after you and your child with the greatest respect.
The funeral is entirely yours to shape, and we will do all we can to give your child the goodbye you want.
Not sure where to start?
Our phone lines are answered day and night, every day of the year.
Call 0191 586 4322Registering a death
The person who registers the death is called the informant. This is usually a family member or the executor, and they sign the register in front of the registrar. The death should be registered within five days. If the Coroner is involved this may not be possible, and we will keep you updated.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is sent straight to the registrar by the GP or the hospital bereavement office. If you cannot find the other documents, you can still register the death.
Official guidance: What to do when someone dies, on GOV.UK
In County Durham
Durham County Council's Registration Service registers deaths that happen in County Durham, at its register office at The Story.
Documents that confirm the details of the person who has died, for example their passport, driving licence, birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, council tax bill or NHS medical card. You will also need something to prove your own identity, such as a passport, driving licence or council tax bill.
Registering the death is free. Death certificates are available for a fee.
If the death happened at Darlington Memorial Hospital, or anywhere else in Darlington, it is registered with Darlington Borough Council. If the death happened elsewhere outside County Durham, the register office can take the details from you, but it has to pass them to the area where the death happened. This can delay the death certificate and possibly the funeral, so please ask us if you are unsure.
Durham County Council Registration Service: 03000 266 000 or theregisteroffice@durham.gov.uk. Source: Register a death, Durham County Council (opens in a new tab).
Tell Us Once is a government service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go.
Their National Insurance number, and if they had them, their passport number, driving licence number, vehicle registration numbers and Blue Badge number. You will also be asked about any benefits, pensions or council services they received.
Banks, utility companies, landlords, insurers and private pension providers are not covered by Tell Us Once, so you will need to contact them yourself.
Source: Tell Us Once, GOV.UK (opens in a new tab). We are always happy to talk you through these steps.
Your nearest funeral home
Call the branch nearest to you, or our 24 hour line, and we will take it from there.
Head Office
The Manse, Bede Way, Peterlee, SR8 1AD
0191 586 4322Open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
View branchSince 1971
Normandale House, Fifth Street, Horden, SR8 4BU
0191 586 5178Visits by appointment. Call us any time to arrange.
View branchClaxton House, Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, SR8 3LJ
0191 527 1499Visits by appointment. Call us any time to arrange.
View branchBelle Vue House, Balmoral Terrace, Trimdon Grange, TS29 6ET
01429 883 777Visits by appointment. Call us any time to arrange.
View branch24 hour line
Someone from our team will answer, whatever the time.
Call 0191 586 4322
After the funeral
Grief does not end when the service is over. We have an in house Cruse bereavement counsellor with 25 years' experience, and our staff are trained in bereavement support.
We can also put you in touch with local organisations who understand what you are going through, or contact them on your behalf.
Reviews
Many local families choose us on personal recommendation. You can read what families have said about us, in their own words, on Trustpilot.
Read our reviews on TrustpilotThe staff were so caring and supportive. We felt everything which was difficult at this time was taken care of. They were always at the end of an email or phonecall
Really great service from Tom and Ellen. Everything clear and to plan with the whole experience delivered with both compassion and professionalism.
Call us at any hour on 0191 586 4322. We will listen, explain what needs to happen and answer your questions. Once a doctor has attended, or the hospital or care home is ready, we make the arrangements to bring your loved one into our care.
Call their GP. The doctor will confirm the death and, in due course, issue the medical certificate showing the cause of death. Once the doctor has been, call us and we will bring your loved one into our care. If you would like them to stay at home for a little while, tell us as soon as you can and we will guide you.
If the doctor cannot give a cause of death, they will inform the Coroner, who will arrange for an examination. Most deaths are found to have natural causes, so an inquest is usually not needed. If a post mortem is required, we liaise with the Coroner and keep you informed. We can often set a provisional funeral date.
Yes. You can come and see us about the funeral before the death is registered, and we will guide you through each decision.
The death should be registered within five days. If the Coroner is involved this may not be possible, and we will keep you updated.
Their birth certificate and National Insurance number, if you have them. The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is sent straight to the registrar by the GP or the hospital bereavement office. If you cannot find the other documents, you can still register the death.
