What to do if someone dies

First Steps

We would recommend that you contact us as soon as you feel able as we will guide you through all that needs to be done. What happens differs slightly depending on where and how a death occurs.

When the death occurs in a hospital

If a relative who has been a hospital in-patient dies, the doctors who have been treating the deceased will usually be able to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, although bear in mind this will not usually happen immediately.

Most hospitals will give family members the opportunity to sit with the deceased before transfer from the ward or private room. There may even be a chapel of rest at the hospital specifically for this purpose.

Each hospital has a dedicated bereavement officer who will contact you and advise you of where you will need to go to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. They may even help you to book an appointment at the Registration office.

Once you have contacted us and instructed us to look after the arrangements, we will liaise directly with the hospital bereavement officer to arrange the necessary paperwork and the conveyance of your loved one into our care.

When the death occurs in a Nursing Home

It is largely the same process as when a loved one dies at home, however the Matron or nursing staff are able to verify that a death has occurred so there isn’t necessarily a need for a doctor to attend.

Once death has been verified, you or the nursing home staff, can contact us and arrange for us to bring your loved one into our care.

The nursing home staff will be able to advise on where to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from, although this is usually from the surgery of which the deceased is registered.

When the death occurs at home

When a death, which has been expected occurs at home, the doctor who has been looking after the deceased should be contacted. If the death occurs out of hours, the doctor can be contacted by dialling 111 from your telephone. Provided the deceased has been seen by a doctor during their final illness and within the previous 14 days, a doctor will then be able to attend to confirm that death has occurred.

Once the Doctor has given permission to proceed, you are then able contact us.  A member of staff will always be available to respond sensitively and efficiently to your call. We will attend at a time convenient to you and then arrange for the deceased to be brought into our care. Please do not feel that this must take place immediately; some families, having informed the funeral directors, may wish to wait until other family members have had an opportunity to say their goodbyes at home.

Coroner Involvement

If the doctor will not issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death it is usually because the circumstances surrounding the death mean it should be referred to the Coroner for further investigation.

The doctor can only complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death if they know the cause of death having seen the deceased for this illness in the 14 days prior to death occurring.

The doctor cannot issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death if the deceased:-

Has died a violent or an unnatural death;

Has died a sudden death of which the cause is unknown;

Has died in prison or in such a place or in such circumstances as to require an inquest under any other Act.

If the deceased underwent an operation shortly before death or there is a suggestion of a possible industrial disease, then it is probable that the doctor will not complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death but refer the death to the coroner.

If the death is referred to HM Coroner their office will arrange for the deceased to be conveyed to their mortuary in order that the death can be investigated and, if necessary, an inquest opened.

Should this happen, the Coroner will keep you updated at every stage and once their investigation has concluded, issue the necessary paperwork. We will be able to help and guide you through this process if required.

How do I register the death?

When registering a death that was expected you will need to take the medical certificate showing the cause of death, which has been signed by a doctor, with you. If you have the following items available, please take them with you, but don’t worry if you don’t have them to hand:-

·         birth certificate;

·         Council Tax bill;

·         driving licence;

·         marriage or civil partnership certificate;

·         NHS medical card;

·         Passport;

·         proof of address (ie utility bill).

You will need to tell the registrar:-

·         the person’s full name at the time of death;

·         any names previously used, ie maiden name;

·         the person’s date and place of birth;

·         their last address;

·         their occupation;

·         the full name, birth date and occupation of a surviving/late spouse/civil partner;

·         whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits.

You should also take supporting documents that show your name and address (ie a utility bill) but you can still register a death without them.

The informant will then sign the register, certifying that the information that has been given to the registrar is correct.

When the Coroner is involved, they will issue interim death certificates which you can use to manage the estate. If an inquest has been open and adjourned it may be that the coroner registers the death on your behalf some months later, one the inquest has been held.

https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/births-marriages-deaths-and-civil-partnerships/register-a-death/