BIrth/Death certificates

[londondave]

Why does a death have to be registered within 5 days when someone is still grieving and probably does not want to deal with such matters, yet a birth has to be registered within 42 days.

[smudge]

Apart from anything else, I would imagine it has something to do with issuing proof to the Funeral Directors.

[Grunty]

That's right smudge.  It is really a safeguard against the wrong person being buried or cremated.  There are circumstances where that could easily happen. 

[Oneeyedvic]

Personally, I find in disgusting that when you are grieving and have to register a death, you have to sit in a waiting room with joyful parents and loving couples.

Not really what you want when trying to cope with the trauma of death!

[smee.tracey]

I agree. I gave birth to twins but one died a week later. The hospital were very good, booked and paid for a taxi to and from register office, and I was taken straight in and dealt with very sympathetically and efficiently. No complaints about that. But as a single parent it would have been a lot less traumatic if someone else could have done it for me, or if I could have had more time. My little boy is 5 now and absoultely fine.

[UsAndStuff]

You can't get a person buried / cremated without the correct paperwork, I registered the death of my mum last year as my dad had enough on his plate.
If you have close relatives they can register the death easily enough.