Following a death there are several steps that need to be taken:
- Register the death
- Notify the government of the death using the Tell Us Once service.
(Note : If you cannot use the Tell Us Once service you will need to contact each department yourself) - Arrange the funeral
- Check to see if you are eligible for help with funeral costs and entitled to bereavement benefits on GOV.UK
- Ensure your own benefits, pension and taxes are correct due to the change.
- Locate bereavement support and services to support you.
- Check to see if you need to apply to stay in the UK
- Value the estate and check to see if you need to pay any Inheritance Tax.
- Apply for probate.
- Deal with the estate.
Further information is available on the Gov.uk What to do when someone dies page.
What next?
If a relative has recently died and you are struggling to meet the costs of organising the funeral there are a few options available to you.
Funeral expenses payment
You may be entitled to help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment) if you are in receipt of certain benefits and need help to pay for the funeral that is being arranged. Further information is available on the Gov.uk Get help with funeral costs page.
The Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money you inherit from the deceased’s estate.
It can help pay for burial fees, cremation fees, doctor’s certificate, death certificate, travel costs, the cost of moving the body (if needed) and other documents.
There are rules around entitlement depending on your relationship with the deceased.
You may also get up to £1000 for other funeral related expenses such as the funeral director’s costs, flowers, coffin, etc. The payment will usually not cover all the funeral costs and will depend on your circumstances.
If there is a pre-paid funeral plan in place you can only get up to £120 to help pay for items not covered by it.
You can make a claim by calling the Bereavement Service Helpline on 0800 151 2012
(Text Phone : 0800 731 0464 ; Welsh language : 0800 731 0453 ; Welsh Language textphone : 0800 731 0456)
These numbers are available Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm
Advice and guidance is also offered by a number of voluntary sector organisations such as down to earth and citizens advice who may be able to help you access these funds.
Public Health Funerals
The Council has a responsibility to undertake a funeral when there is no next of kin or next of kin who are unable or unwilling to make these arrangements.
Further information is available on the Environmental Public Health page.
Bereavement Support Payment
You may be entitled to this if your partner has died and this has replaced other benefits previously in place. The amount you can get varies and depends on your relationship with the person who has died.
You usually need to claim this within 21 months of your partners death. There are exceptions to this and you would need to call the Bereavement Service Helpline (Details below) regarding this. Additionally you may be entitled to backdated payments under certain circumstances.
Further information is available on the Gov.uk Bereavement Support Payment page.
You can make a claim by calling the Bereavement Service Helpline on 0800 151 2012
(Text Phone : 0800 731 0464 ; Welsh language : 0800 731 0453 ; Welsh Language textphone : 0800 731 0456)
These numbers are available Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave
A parent may be able to take time off work due to the death of a child under 18 or due to a stillbirth after the 24th week of pregnancy.
There are two benefits :
- Parental Bereavement Leave
- Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay
Further information is available on the Gov.uk Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave page.
Guardian's Allowance
You may be entitled to Guardian’s Allowance if you are bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may still be eligible if there is still a surviving parent. It will depend on the situation.
Further information is available on the Gov.uk Guardian's Allowance page.
Arranging a Cremation
Most people will use a funeral director to arrange a cremation.
Your funeral director has access to the Crematorium preliminary application form* and the statutory cremation application form and will assist you in their completion and submission to the crematorium.
* By signing this form you are accepting the following main terms and conditions (this list is accurate at time of printing (April 2025), is not exhaustive and subject to change with notice)
- This completed form and all statutory forms must be delivered to the crematorium at least 48 hours prior to the cremation service.
- Any changes must be submitted in writing by the funeral director.
- The coffin must comply with the ‘FBCA Instructions to Funeral Directors’ and it must not contain items which could become hazardous during cremation or lead to non‑permitted emissions.
- Music is uploaded from the funeral director onto an automated audio/visual system’. Visual tributes, webcasts and service recordings can also be requested.
- To minimise our impact on the environment the cremation may occur up to 72 hours after the funeral service or, exceptionally, up to 120 hours after.
- In the rare event we cannot cremate the deceased at the booked crematorium, the deceased will be transported to our other site, cremated there and cremated remains transported back. The cremation certificate will display the other crematorium’s details, paper records will be held there for the prescribed period but computer records will be held at both sites. Your funeral director will be informed prior to this occurrence.
- Sefton Council participates in a metals recycling scheme; if you do not wish for metal from your cremation to be recycled please inform your funeral director and we will return any recovered metal to you.
- Please bring photo identification with you if you are collecting cremated remains.
- Any flowers left behind after the funeral are left at the owner’s risk.
- For details about what we ask you, and why, and what happens to your information, please see our Privacy Notice.
Services
Sefton Council owns and operates two crematoria; Southport Crematorium and Thornton Crematorium. Funeral service times are available from Monday to Friday.
The standard service time is 30 minutes, though extended services may be arranged through the funeral director. This allows for various options:
- a full funeral service with committal.
- a committal only, following a church or other service elsewhere.
- a funeral service prior to a burial taking place at any of the Council’s cemeteries, or elsewhere.
- a memorial service following a burial or cremation elsewhere.
In addition, families who do not want a service of any kind may opt for a direct committal at a reduced fee.
The chapels may be used for any religious denomination, or none, and we will cater for any specific requirements wherever possible.
Arranging a Burial
Sefton Council owns and operates four cemeteries; Bootle Cemetery, Thornton Garden of Rest, Duke Street Cemetery and Liverpool Road Cemetery.
The cemeteries are divided into sections containing lawned grave areas which are mown regularly. Paved paths between the sections allow for access and parking.
Any burials within the graves must be carried out by appointment with the relevant cemetery office, and a cemetery officer must be in attendance. This includes cremated remains burials.
Graves
Graves can be purchased for full-sized burials/cremated remains. Smaller graves are available for the curial of cremated remains only (Thornton Garden of Rest & Liverpool Road only).
For more information about purchasing a grave please see the below form
| Grave Purchase Information |  (pdf 174KB) |
Memorials within cemeteries
All private graves may be marked with a headstone or similar memorial, within certain restrictions. Before works commence, a permit form must be signed by the grave owner and submitted by a registered stone mason to burials@sefton.gov.uk.
| Permit Request form | (pdf 126KB) |
Sponsored memorial benches are available within each cemetery.
*Link to memorials page
Further Information
Cemetery officers patrol the sites and are available to help with grave locating, by arrangement.
Short-notice burials on religious grounds can be accommodated.