The registrar will issue a certificate for cremation or burial which is normally passed to the funeral director. Without this certificate the funeral director cannot proceed with the funeral, although arrangements can be made before it is issued.
If registration of the death is delayed for any reason, it is possible in certain circumstances for a certificate for burial to be issued before registration. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before registration unless the delay is caused by involvement of the coroner, in which case he or she will usually issue a certificate for cremation to avoid delaying the funeral.