In our Local authority, when you go and register the death they give you a form with a code number on..its called "Tell us once service" it is a service where you ring just one number and they inform everyone, but! I found it easier to just ring everyone myself as there are sometimes questions to be asked.
Coffins! Yes I would deff take a look round your Funeral homes and not just one! as I found out! as they do all have diff prices. I went to 3.
One thing that I will mention that I don't think people are aware of (another one of those things they don't tell you)!
When DH passed away it was during the night, I hadn't put a plan in place,so I just had to choose one of the 3 I had visited 2 weeks before.
The morning after when I went to funeral home where dh was, I sat down with the lady and she went through the basic cost! over £3,000 ! I said there is no way I can possibly afford that! (she then very discreetly told me to ring this number of another funeral home) which I did, he was an independent Funeral Man and he was just lovely.
So what I am saying is! even though you have sent your beloved off to a certain funeral home you can change your mind! you do not! have to use that funeral home, but no one tell you this, if you choose to use a different one (maybe because of price etc etc ) you can move that person to another Funeral home. I did! although at a cost of £125 but it was a small price to pay for the service I received in the end.
The Gov website is very good as it takes you through the stages "what if etc" as things are different if the person has died unexpectedly or if a Doctor hasn't seen them for a while. The person then normally has to be taken to the Coroners and not straight to he funeral home.
Not a nice subject but one which must be approached if you are to save the family trying to think what to do, normally a week to try and organise things which goes very very fast'
One more thing not sure if its country wise..but in our Town you cannot just walk in and REGISTER a death, you have to have an appointment, and you need this to be done as soon as,otherwise you cannot arrange the funeral.
You can book an appointment on line or ring, I rang on the Tuesday morning, I didn't get an appointment until the Friday!l