What To Do If Someone Dies At Home
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What to do when someone dies at home
The immediate steps you should take when someone dies at home depend on whether the death was expected or unexpected.
Expected death
- Contact the deceased's GP or the NHS helpline (111). If the death was expected, such as due to a terminal illness, call their doctor during surgery hours or NHS 111 out of hours. You can also wait until the next morning to contact the GP if the death occurred during the night.
- Verification of Death. A medical professional will attend to verify the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This certificate is crucial for registering the death.
- Contact a Funeral Director. You can contact a funeral director as soon as you feel ready. They can provide guidance and assistance with the next steps, including transferring the deceased into their care.
Unexpected death
- Call 999 immediately. If the death was sudden, unexpected, or the cause is unknown, you must dial 999. The operator will provide instructions, including whether to attempt resuscitation.
- Paramedics and Police Response. Paramedics will attempt resuscitation or confirm the death upon arrival. In cases of unexpected death, the police will also be involved.
- Coroner's Involvement. If the cause of death is unknown, the police will arrange for the body to be moved on behalf of the coroner (or procurator fiscal in Scotland) so that a post-mortem examination can be conducted to determine the cause of death. It's crucial not to disturb the scene (except for resuscitation attempts) in cases of unexpected death with an unknown cause.
- Funeral Arrangements. A funeral cannot be held until the Coroner's inquest is complete and the cause of death is established. However, you can still begin making preliminary funeral arrangements with a funeral director during this time.
The next steps
- Register the death. The medical certificate of cause of death will be sent to the registrars, and they will inform you when they have done this. You can then register the death at the Registrar's Office local to the person who died. You should register the death within five days of receiving the MCCD.
- Find the Will / Funeral Plan / Expression of Wishes. If a Will exists, locate it as it will outline the deceased's wishes regarding their estate. The deceased may also have a pre-paid funeral plan or left an Expression of Wishes form that details their funeral wishes.
- Arrange the funeral. A funeral director will help you make the necessary arrangements. You can begin making arrangements before the death is registered, but the funeral cannot take place until the death certificate and other necessary documents are issued.
- Deal with the Estate. If a Will exists, the named executor will handle the estate. If there is no Will, a relative will be appointed as an administrator. You may need to apply for probate depending on the assets involved. More information about Probate can be found here.
- Notify organisations about the death. You will need to inform various government departments and other organisations about the death, such as banks, insurance companies, private pension providers. There are services such ‘Life Ledger’ and ’Tell Us Once’ that can help with this process.
Important considerations
- Emotional Support. Losing a loved one is a difficult time. Don't hesitate to seek emotional support from family, friends, or bereavement support organizations.
- Documentation. Gather important documents such as the deceased's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and any information about pensions or allowances, as they may be required for registering the death and dealing with the estate.
- Organ Donation. If the deceased expressed a wish to be an organ donor, inform the medical staff and funeral director immediately, as this process needs to be handled quickly.
