Step by Step guide following a Death

When someone dies there are a number of important legal and regulatory responsibilities to be addressed before the funeral can take place. The procedure to be followed varies a little depending on where the deceased passed away and whether the deceased is to be buried or cremated.

If the deceased died at home then their doctor should be called immediately. If you do not know how to contact the deceaseds doctor or if you think the circumstances of the death are suspicious then you should call the police.

Following this first phone call:

The deceaseds doctor will inform you if he/she will be issuing a death certificate. If a certification of death is issued, you can contact your funeral director who will then take the deceased to their Chapel of Rest.

If an emergency doctor has been called he will provide a letter to give to the deceaseds doctor who will be responsible for issuing the certification of death. If the deceaseds doctor has not seen the deceased within the last 14 days he/she may refer the death to the Coroners Office. There a further examination of the person who has died will be undertaken before a certification of death can be issued.

If the police are the first to arrive they will summon a doctor on your behalf who may refer the death to the Coroners Office. The doctor will speak with you and the deceased may have to be moved to the Coroners Office for examination.

If the deceased died in a hospital, a hospice, or nursing home then the resident doctor will be responsible for issuing the certification of death. If a certification of death is issued you may proceed to contact a funeral director and register the death at the local Registrars Office. Alternatively the resident doctor may refer the death to the Coroners Office.

If the death has been referred to the Coroners Office then it is likely that a post-mortem examination will be carried out to ascertain the cause of death. When the Coroners Office releases the deceased from their care you should then contact your funeral director who will move the deceased from the Coroners Mortuary to their Chapel of Rest.

The Coroner will issue either a Burial Order (form101) or a Certificate of Cremation known as Cremation 6 (Crem 6). These forms provide permission for the burial or cremation to go ahead and are normally given to your funeral director by the Coroner.