If you are making funeral arrangements without the help of a funeral director, the staff at the crematorium will give you copies of the forms you need to complete. If you have decided to have a cremation for your baby, you will need additional cremation forms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are no longer needed in Scotland.
In England and Wales, you will need a cremation form that is signed by a registered doctor if your baby died after birth. Your midwife or doctor can give you more information. You do not need this form if your baby died before birth or after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.
In Northern Ireland, you will need a cremation form and a confirmatory medical certificate form to cremate your baby if they died before birth at a minimum of 24 weeks, or if they died after birth. These forms need to be signed by two different doctors. Your midwife or doctor can give you more information.
If your baby needs a post-mortem examination, you will need to wait until this is completed before you can hold the funeral. If a referral has been made to the coroner or procurator fiscal (in Scotland), there may be a slightly longer delay before the funeral can be held. The coroner’s or procurator fiscal’s officer will explain what will happen and provide expected timescales for returning your baby to you.
If your baby died before birth and had not completed 24 weeks (legally described as a “late miscarriage”), the death cannot be officially registered. Although it is not an official document, Sands provides some certificates for you to keep as an acknowledgement of your baby. if you would like one please contact our Bereavement Support Services on helpline@sands.org.uk.
The funeral director, crematorium or cemetery will usually need a form or letter from the hospital or your GP to confirm that your baby died before birth before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy. A burial or cremation can then be arranged.