If death occurs at home

What To Do First?

The first thing you need to do is phone your GP. They will come to the house and sign the medical certificate of the cause of death.

After you have phoned the doctor, phone us on 01592 652133, We will answer the phone at any time of day or night, every day of the year. You don’t have to wait until you have the medical certificate to do this.

If the cause of death is quite clear and the doctor had attended the deceased during their last illness he or she will give you the following:

• a medical certificate that shows the cause of death (this is free of charge and will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the registrar)
• a formal notice which states that the doctor has signed the medical certificate and tells you how to get the death registered.

If it was the wish of the dead person or their nearest relative that the body or organs should be donated for transplant or medical research purposes, the doctor will have to be contacted quickly. Organs cannot normally be used when death occurs at home, but the body can still be donated to medical science.

Unexpected death

If you discover a body or the death is sudden or unexpected, you should contact the following people (if known):

• the family doctor
• the deceased’s nearest relative
• the deceased’s minister of religion
• the police, who will help find the people listed above if necessary

If the death was violent or accidental, or if there are unusual circumstances or the cause of death is not known for certain, or there is any reason to suspect that the death was not due to natural causes, contact the police immediately. Do not touch the body or anything nearby, or remove anything from the area.

On The Day Of The Funeral