What to do when someone dies
When someone dies at home or in a nursing homeWhen someone dies at home, the first
contact should be with the deceased's doctor who if satisfied
with the cause of death will issue the Medical Certificate of
Death. It is likely that you may be asked to collect the certificate
from the surgery during normal working hours. In the case of a nursing home death, their staff
should liaise with the doctor on your behalf.
Once the doctor has been informed you or the nursing home staff should make contact with us.
We will immediately make arrangements to visit the premises where the death has occurred and return the deceased to our chapel of rest where upon we shall await further instruction from yourselves.
Once in possession of the Medical Certificate of Death then you should make an appointment to register the death with the registrar.
Please note that the doctor will usually only issue the Medical Certificate of Death if he has seen his patient within the last 14 days prior to death, otherwise it may be referred to the Coroner (see 'when someone dies unexpectedly')
When someone dies in hospital When someone dies in hospital then the hospital will arrange for the Medical Certificate of Death to be issued. You will need to make arrangements with the hospital bereavement officer to collect this certificate and any other belongings.
If the funeral is to be a cremation then please advice the hospital staff to enable them to make arrangements for any additional documentation that is needed.
Once in possession of the Medical Certificate of Death then you should make an appointment to register the death with the registrar.
When someone dies abroad When someone dies some abroad then please contact us and we will make the necessary arrangements.
When someone dies unexpectedlyShould someone die unexpectedly or has not been under a doctor's care on a regular basis it is normal for the Coroner (England and Wales) or the Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) to be involved in the issuing of the necessary certification. Once the Coroner has undertaken all necessary procedures to establish the cause of death the relevant certificate will be issued and the funeral arrangements can take place.
Please contact us for further advice on what to do following a death or alternatively find out more at the DirectGov website.