Help when a death occurs
Whether a death was expected or not, many people feel worried and unsure about what to do, most people find the death of a relative or close friend is a very unsettling experience. Those left behind have to come to terms with the loss as well as contend with the immediate practicalities and contacting a Funeral Director.
The purpose of a Funeral Director is to offer professional advice and guidance to assist you in making the funeral arrangements.
You can contact a Funeral Director of your choice for advice at any time following a death, even before registration.
You should find out if the deceased left a Will or any instructions regarding their funeral.
Please feel free to contact us on 01626 772080 for further information and speak to a member of staff who will be available to talk you through the process.
The purpose of a Funeral Director is to offer professional advice and guidance to assist you in making the funeral arrangements.
You can contact a Funeral Director of your choice for advice at any time following a death, even before registration.
You should find out if the deceased left a Will or any instructions regarding their funeral.
Please feel free to contact us on 01626 772080 for further information and speak to a member of staff who will be available to talk you through the process.
If the death occurs at home
Call their GP practice and nearest relative (if that's not you). First, a doctor or nurse will come to verify the death. A doctor will then complete their part of a medical certificate, which explains 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 the nearest relative 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 us to arrange conveyance of the body from the place of death to our premises.
If the Coroner is involved because
Once the cause of death has been established the Coroner/Doctor will issue the necessary certificate to allow registration.
We can liaise with the Coroner on your behalf and keep you informed of proceedings.
If the Coroner is involved because
- The deceased had not been seen by a Doctor in the previous 14 days
- The death was unexplained or sudden
Once the cause of death has been established the Coroner/Doctor will issue the necessary certificate to allow registration.
We can liaise with the Coroner on your behalf and keep you informed of proceedings.
Should the death occur in a care or nursing home
The staff of the care/nursing home will contact the appropriate professional to verify the death. Then they can contact us to remove the deceased to our premises.
(The care home can be made aware in advance of your choice of Funeral Director. They can then liaise with us as necessary.)
(The care home can be made aware in advance of your choice of Funeral Director. They can then liaise with us as necessary.)
If the death is in a 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 MCCD and a formal notice will be issued directly to the registrar.
The body will usually be kept in the hospital mortuary until the you arrange for it to be taken to the funeral director's premises or taken home. If an MCCD can’t be issued, the hospital will refer the death to the coroner.
The body will usually be kept in the hospital mortuary until the you arrange for it to be taken to the funeral director's premises or taken home. If an MCCD can’t be issued, the hospital will refer the death to the coroner.
