What To Do When Someone Dies
The information provided here is a step-by-step guide of what will happen, and what you need to do, in the days following the death.
Every death is unique and so the information may change depending on the circumstances, but if you have any questions we are always here to help; we are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Please do contact us on 0161 428 2097 and we will guide you through the whole process.
Please click here to find out more about our Repatriation Services.
If it is an expected death at a family home or Care Home
- Call the deceased GP Practice and nearest relative if that is not you. If the death occurs outside of office hours, you will be redirected to a service called Mastercall who will notify the on-call GP.
- The GP will attend your home/care home to certify that your loved one has passed away. This process can also be looked after by a senior nurse.
- Then, when this verification has occurred and the family is ready, please call us on 0161 428 2097; we are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Our team will attend and bring your loved one to our Chapel of Rest in Cheadle.
- In the days that follow, the GP will contact you to confirm when the Medical Cause of Death will be emailed to the local Registrar. They may also seek to ensure you have no questions or concerns surrounding the death.
- You can then make an appointment online or by telephone with the relevant Registrars to register the death. Information about local registrars can be found here. Please advise us when you have your registration appointment so we can then make an appointment with you to meet with one of our Funeral Directors, who will take the Green Form (known as the Certificate of Burial) from you and begin the arrangement process.
If it is an expected death at Hospital or in a Hospice
- The Hospital/Hospice will explain the steps you need to take.
- The Medical Examiner will check the cause of death, and then the Medical Certificate will be issued.
- The Medical Examiner and their team will scrutinise this report to ensure that they agree with the cause of death and that everything is in order.
- The Medical Examiner will telephone you to ensure you have been advised and agree with the attending doctor’s report.
- If you and the Medical Examiner agree, they will forward the Medical Cause of Death Certificate to the Registrars so that you can make an appointment to register. Information about local registrars can be found here.
- Please advise us when you have your registration appointment so we can then make an appointment for you to meet with one our Funeral Directors, who will take the Green Form (known as the Certificate of Burial) from you and begin the arrangement process.
- Once we have the Green Form and know that the necessary paperwork is ready at the hospital, we will make arrangements to bring your loved one into our care.
If it is a sudden or unexpected death
- Please dial 999 and explain what has happened.
- If the death is unclear or unnatural, e.g. a result of an accident, the death will need to be reported to the Coroner by the police, who will be in attendance.
- The Coroner has a legal duty to investigate unexpected deaths and then decide whether a post-mortem examination needs to take place to determine the cause of death. If the police determine the Coroner needs to be involved, they will contact a Funeral Director who acts on behalf of the Coroner to take your loved one to the local hospital. You will be appointed the Coroner’s Liaison Officer who will keep you informed.
- Please call our team on 0161 428 2097, and we will contact the Coroner’s office to notify them that we are your appointed Funeral Director.
- Depending on the outcome from the Coroner, you will either be asked to register your loved one’s death or a Coroner’s Inquest will be ordered.
If the death occurs whilst overseas
- If a family member or friend dies abroad, the first thing to do is to contact the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the country where the death took place for advice on what to do and information on the support they can offer.
- Visit the UK Government website to find a British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
- If the person who has died had travel insurance, get in touch with the insurance company. It may be that the insurance policy covers things such as repatriation costs (if the person is to be brought back to the UK), legal and translation fees.
- For more detailed advice on what to do when someone dies abroad, see the guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. What to do when someone dies abroad – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Citizens Advice also explains how to register a death and make arrangements when a person dies abroad.