What to do When Death Occurs
At Home – Contact the doctor and make arrangements for him or her to visit. In the case of an expected death, the doctor will give you a Medical Certificate of Death. Contact us as soon as possible so that we can provide immediate advice and support.
In Hospital – The hospital will give you the Medical Certificate of Death and tell you where registration should take place. Contact us as soon as possible so that we can provide immediate advice and support.
In a Nursing Home, Care Home or Hospice – The home or hospice will contact you and inform you where the Medical Certificate of Death may be collected from. Contact us as soon as possible so that we can provide immediate advice and support.
If death is sudden, suspicious, accidental or unexplained the police should be called, they will arrange for a doctor to attend the scene.
Registrar
By law a death must be registered, within 5 days, by the next of kin, a close relative or a friend, either in the district where the deceased lived, or where they died. We can assist you in getting the Registrar’s address and making an appointment. Registration requires presentation of the Death Certificate. Sometimes the deceased’s Medical Card can also be useful.
You will need to provide the Registrar with the following information concerning the deceased;
- Place and date of both their birth and death
- Full name
- Home address
- Marital status
- Occupation
- Maiden name and spouse’s full name and occupation, if applicable.
A green certificate for burial or cremation will be issued by the Registrar and you should pass it as soon as possible to the Funeral Director. Copies of the Death Certificate are available from the Registrar for a fee.
