Funeral Guide Singapore

When a death occurs a Certificate of Cause of Death must be retrieved in order to register the death in Singapore. Depending on where the death happened, the following procedure is how it is done when death occurs in different locations.

CCOD Will be given upon attending the doctor in the hospital only if the death is known and natural. CCOD can only be issued upon producing the NRIC of the deceased.

A doctor has to clarify the cause of death in order to certify the cause of death, CCOD can be issued by the doctor on the spot unless it’s an unnatural death.

Coroner’s case occurs when  unnatural death occurs or death without a valid cause.

Singapore Police Force will arrange for the body to be transferred to HSA’s Mortuary located at Block 9 Singapore General Hospital.

Police Investigating Officer in charge will notify the family to come and retrieve the deceased.

Do be punctual and bring along your IC and deceased IC and all supporting medical documents and related medication relating to the deceased.

Upon reaching, The investigating police officer will make arrangements for the family for viewing and identifying the deceased’s body with the presence of the Coroner.

The Coroner will be reviewing the case and will determine whether an autopsy is required. After everything is done the family will be informed regarding the Coroner’s decision and afterward, families are able to claim the body for conducting the funeral.

It is mandatory that death registration must be done within 24 hours upon the time of death. The death registration center will retain the CCOD and will be issuing a death certificate to the deceased’s family.

Please take note that the family will have to decide fast on whether they would wish to proceed with cremation or by burial as this important information needs to be provided to the officer in charge at the event of registration.

When death occurred at home or in a non-government hospital, the next of kin may register the death at the nearest Neighbourhood Police Post (NPC) or Headquarter (HQ) and registration can be also done at the ICA building too.

If death occurs in a government hospital or the case is been referred to Mortuary@HSA the registration could be done by the hospital itself.

Engaging a Funeral Services Provider if u have not engaged yet, you would need to find one in assisting you in arranging and conducting the funeral.

When a death occurs it can be confusing and stressful at times as you may be lost on what to do next.

This is why having an experienced funeral director is so important as they are experienced they are able to guide you through out during this period.

When u engage a funeral director will go through with you the entire funeral process from obtaining CCOD to helping you with other logistic and administrative task.

*Prepare a set of clothing, footwear of what the deceased likes to wear, and dentures are allowed as well, all this will be handed to our staff for dressing up your loved one once they are done with embalming.

There are a few more important things to take note of when arranging a funeral parting from choosing a good funeral services provider. A funeral wake lets friends and relatives gather and eventually paying the last respect to the deceased. Families will have to decide on the location and number of days wakes.

Funeral wakes usually last from 1 to 7 days depending on individuals’ preferences, religious, and traditions. If the wake is more than 7 days after death, this can only happen after NEA approved and written permission will be issued.

In Singapore, Funeral wakes are often being conducted at the deceased’s home or Funeral Parlours

For funeral wakes to be held in HDB’s Void Decks, you will have to get a permit with your local town council to secure the spot for the usage of the void deck during these particular days.

Do remember to bring along a copy of the death certificate and a Singapore Power Bills to prove that you are living there which indicates the address of that particular void deck.

For families that are living in landed property, do get a permit for lTA if you intend to use part of the road outside your house for funeral wakes.

Obituaries are optional and will be placed in our local newspapers. An arrangement can be done by the funeral directors.

In Singapore, due to land limitations, the only cemetery place available for burial is located at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. The timespan of the burial period for graves is limited to a duration of 15 years, after the duration graves have to be exhumed. Cremation will still be carried out, the remains can be stored in columbarium niches or sea burial.

For those that require compulsory burial, the remains will be buried again but in a smaller individual spot.

Our funeral director will assist you with the booking of a slot for either burial or cremation.