Genealogy Chat

Hi, I have a death cert which under the 'signature , description and residence of informant ' section has the informants name and then - ' Causing the body to be buried ' . I wondered if anyone knew what this meant as I've never come across this befor ???? Thanks Maria.

Hi Maria, this is used say when somebody has died in a home or somewhere where the body had been found and reported by someone who is not kin, for instance a landlady who finds a lodger deceased, they report the death and 'Cause the body to be buried'. Hope this makes sense. Keith

That's strange. I wonder if it meant that the undertaker was the one who registered the death - they would 'cause the body to be buried', I suppose.

Hi, Thanks, that does make sense but this person died in hospital and the name seems to be a family name ? Any ideas ?? Maria .

The person who 'causes a body to be buried' is also the one who, legally, picks up the tab for the burial! OC

Thanks. Maria x

There is also the option of the informant being 'causing the body to be cremated'. As others have said, it's where there is no relative available/in existence or present at the registration, so instead, someone else registers the death who is dealing with the funeral - but not the funeral director. Jack

I believe that in some cases where someone died in hospital the following may account for it either they died suddently and hospital didnt know who next of kin was...they would have an undertaker who would collect the bodies and do the necessary to stop the morgue at the hospital being log jammed with unclaimed bodies. It is also possible that if the family were unable ( or even unwilling) to pay for the burial the above would apply.....a paupers burial etc. This maybe especially true if there was also a large medical bill to pay...the family may refuse to accept responsibility....or argue about which family member is responsible etc.