What to do when someone dies: step by step

Experiencing the death of a loved one, whether sudden or expected, is extremely difficult. Knowing what to do after a loved on has died can be even more difficult - so we have made a helpful guide to assist you through this tough time

What to do if a loved one dies at home or a care home?

If the death is unexpected then you should call the police, they will attend the property and assess whether further investigation is required from the coroner before the funeral director can collect the body.

If the death was expected, call the GP surgery so that they can send out a doctor or nurse to the address. If this is not possible, call NHS on 111, they will send an out of hours nurse. If paramedics are already at the address, then there is no need to call 111.

The nurse/paramedic will then verify the death and advise you that you can now contact the funeral director to arrange collection of your loved one.

If you are organising a direct cremation, call Celebration of Life on 0800 150 3555 (24 hours a day) and their specialist team will bring your loved one into their care.

The GP will then produce a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) which they will send to the local medical examiner (ME) for approval. The ME will then countersign the MCCD and send it to the local register office. At this point, the ME will get in touch with you and let you know that you can now make an appointment to register the death.

What to do if a loved one dies in hospital?

If a coroner is required for a post mortem examination then this will have to be done before the death can be registered. If the investigation is likely to continue for some time, then the coroner may release the body and provide an interim death certificate so that the funeral can go ahead.

If a post mortem is not required, then the doctors at the hospital will then produce the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) which they will send to the local medical examiner (ME) for approval. The ME will then countersign the MCCD and send it to the local register office. At this point, the ME will get in touch with you and let you know that you can now make an appointment to register the death.

If you are organising a direct cremation, call Celebration of Life on 0800 150 3555 and their specialist team will bring your loved one into their care.

You should make the funeral arrangements as soon as the doctor has completed the medical certificate or before so that you can tell the registrar who you have instructed. Once the death has been registered, they will provide the Green Form (funeral permit), usually directly to the funeral director, which is needed for the collection from hospital to take place.

How to register a death in England and Wales

Once the ME has sent the MCCD to the local register office they will contact you and let you know that you can now make your appointment to register. This must be done within 5 days of the ME getting in touch with you.

You can register online at gov.uk/register-a-death or you can book an appointment at the local town register office. You will have to contact the town government local to where the death occurred online or by phone. Registration must take place in person at the local register office – if you live very far away from the area where the death occurred you may be able to have your appointment at your own town’s register office (known as registering by declaration) but you will need to arrange this by calling the registrars local to the location of death.

Ask for a TELL US ONCE appointment with the registrar. This reports a death to most government organisations in one go. More information about this can be found here gov.uk/tell-us-once 

What do I need to register a death

You must take the medical certificate showing the cause of death with you. You should also try to bring the person’s:

• Birth certificate
• NHS medical card
• Proof of their address, like a utility bill
• Council tax bill
• Driving licence
• Passport
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate

Don’t worry if you can’t find all these documents – you’ll still be able to register the death without them. The registrar will also want to know:

• The person’s full name (at the time of their death)
• Any other names that the person used (e.g. a maiden name)
• Their date and place of birth, including the town and county if they were born in the UK,
• Or, just the country if they were born abroad
• Their last address
• Their occupation or last occupation if now retired
• The full name of their husband, wife or civil partner, if they’ve died
• Details of any state pension or other state benefit they were receiving

Who can register the death

If the death occurred inside a house or public building such as a hospital, the following people may register the death:

• A relative
• Someone who was present at the death
• The occupier of the house or an official from the public building where the death occurs, e.g. the hospital
• The person making the arrangements with the funeral director

If the death took place elsewhere, the following list of people may register the death.

• A relative
• Someone who was present at the death
• The person who found the body
• The person who is in charge of the body

A funeral director is not allowed to register the death.

Other useful information

The government website has a very useful step by step guide which can assist you with what else you might need to organise when a loved one dies, such as probate, bereavement support and help with funeral costs.

Take a look at their guide here gov.uk/when-someone-dies

Bereavement support

For help and support for bereavement, there are lots of wonderful organisations that can help. We have listed a few below for you to consider.

cruse.org.uk/get-support/local-services

thegoodgrieftrust.org//for-newly-bereaved

thenbs.org/emotional-support/the-experience-of-grief

mariecurie.org.uk/support/bereavement

sueryder.org/online-bereavement-support