An Expected Death at Home
The simple guide below tells you what to do when someone dies at home and the death was expected. Please contact us to inform us the person has died. We can then help with advice on the things that must be done and begin to make the funeral arrangements.
1. Contact GP
Contact the deceased's person's GP who will visit at home to confirm death. The doctor will then complete their part of a medical certificate, which explains the cause of death. This is then sent to a medical examiner (a senior doctor) who reviews it.
2. The Medical Examiner
The medical examiner, or one of their team, will then contact and speak to the nearest relative of the deceased to check they understand and agree with the medical certificate. You can ask the medical examiner questions and raise any concerns you have about the death at this stage.
3. Registering The Death
The medical examiner then contacts the local registrar who will contact the nearest relative to make an appointment to register the death. You will be advised an appointment time and place and what to take with you and what information is required by the registrar. When registered, the registrar will issue a green certificate which should be passed to the funeral director.
An Unexpected Death at Home
The simple guide below tells you what to do when someone dies at home and the death was unexpected. Please contact us to inform us the person has died. We can then help with advice on the things that must be done.
1. Call 999 to Report the Death
Call 999 immediately and explain what's happened. The police will visit the home and carry out an investigation into what has happened. Once completed, the police will then contact the funeral director to remove the deceased to a local hospital.
2. The Coroner
A coroner is a lawyer with the legal duty to investigate unexpected deaths (some coroners are also doctors). The coroner will investigate the death, which may include a post mortem.
3. Arrange The Funeral
Once the coroner has completed their involvement and released the deceased, funeral arrangements can then be made.
A Death in Hospital
The simple guide below tells you what to do when someone dies in hospital. Please contact us to inform us the person has died. We can then help with advice on the things that must be done.
1. The Hospital
The hospital will explain the steps you need to initially take.
2. The Medical Examiner
After the death has been verified by a first doctor or nurse, the cause of death will then usually be checked by the medical examiner, or referred to the coroner. If the coroner is not involved the medical examiner will issue a formal notice which will be issued directly to the registrar and registration of the death can take place. If the coroner is involved, the coroner will investigate the death, which may include a post mortem.
3. Registering the Death & Arranging the Funeral
The medical examiner then contacts the local registrar who will contact the nearest relative to make an appointment to register the death. You will be advised an appointment time and place and what to take with you and what information is required by the registrar. When registered, the registrar will issue a green certificate which should be passed to the funeral director.
A Death in A Hospice or Nursing Home
The simple guide below tells you what to do when someone dies in a hospice or nursing home. Please contact us to inform us the person has died. We can then help with advice on the things that must be done.
1. Hospice/Nursing Staff Advice
The staff at the hospice or nursing home will arrange for a doctor to visit who will complete their part of a medical certificate, which explains the cause of death. This is then sent to a medical examiner (a senior doctor) who reviews it.
2. The Medical Examiner
The medical examiner, or one of their team, will then contact and speak to the nearest relative of the deceased to check they understand and agree with the medical certificate. You can ask the medical examiner questions and raise any concerns you have about the death at this stage.
3. Registering The Death and Arranging the Funeral
You will be advised an appointment time and place and what to take with you and what information is required by the registrar. When registered, the registrar will issue a green certificate which should be passed to the funeral director.