What To Do When Someone Dies

Immediately after someone dies

Navigating the initial moments after someone passes away can be incredibly challenging. The steps you need to take depend on where and how the death occurred. You can download 'A guide for when a loved one dies' here.

At Home

The death was expected

Call their GP practice or if it is at night call NHS 111 and a doctor or nurse will come to verify the death. A doctor then completes their part of a medical certificate which says the cause of death. This is then sent to a medical examiner (a senior doctor) who reviews it. The medical examiner or one of their team will then speak to you to check they understand and agree with the medical certificate. You can ask the medical examiner questions and raise any concerns you have about the death at this stage. You’ll also be given a formal notice stating that the MCCD has been signed. This notice tells you how to register the death. Then, when you feel ready to do so, you can contact a funeral director of your choice who will move the body.

The death was not expected

Call 999 immediately and explain what's happened. If the cause of death is unclear or unnatural, for example as the result of an accident, or the person hadn't been seen by a doctor during their last illness, the death will need to be reported to a coroner. A coroner is a lawyer with the legal duty to investigate unexpected deaths (some coroners are also doctors). The coroner may call for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. This may take some time, so the funeral may need to be delayed. You cannot refuse the examination, but you can tell them if you need to arrange the funeral quickly for faith reasons.

When someone dies unexpectedly, the police will also be called to do a routine visit. They'll ask questions about the circumstances of the death which may be used to help the coroner to understand the cause of death. This can be unsettling but it's important to remember that it's normal procedure in these circumstances.  

In hospital

The hospital will explain the steps you need to take. After the death has been verified by a first doctor or nurse, the cause of death will then usually be checked by the medical examiner, who will then issue an MCCD and formal notice will be issued directly to the registrar. 

Someone from the medical examiner's office will contact you to explain their decision on the cause of death. They’ll also answer any questions you have. The medical examiner will usually send the certificate to the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The Registrar will then contact you to arrange an appointment to register the death. You will also be given a notice, explaining how to register the death. There is no charge for either of these.

A hospital may ask you for permission to carry out a post-mortem examination to learn more about the cause of death. You do not have to agree to this.

In some cases, a doctor may not be able to issue a medical certificate of the cause of death. There may be a number of reasons for this. If the doctor isn't able to issue a medical certificate, the doctor or medical examiner will refer the death to the coroner. The coroner may order a post mortem examination. You do not have the right to object to a post-mortem ordered by the coroner, but you should tell the coroner if you have religious or other strong objections.

At a Care Home or Hospice

If the death was expected

Staff at the care home or hospice will contact a medical professional to go in person to verify their death. Once this has happened you can arrange for a funeral director to bring them into their care.

The medical examiner will issue a 'medical certificate of cause of death', which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once they have sent it. You will then have 5 days to register the death.

If the death was not expected

If someone dies unexpectedly at a care home the emergency services must be involved. They will contact the coroner to investigate the cause of death.

The coroner will arrange for a local funeral director to collect the person who has died to take them to a mortuary. The coroner will issue a medical certificate of cause of death when they've finished their investigation, but you can still start arranging the funeral in the meantime. Sometimes, an ‘interim’ certificate is issued whilst further investigations are taking place.

If someone dies abroad

If someone dies abroad, you should register the death according to the regulations of the country. A local death certificate can usually be used in the UK. 

See our ‘Death Abroad’ guide here.