When Someone Dies
When someone dies, there are certain things that have to be done. But this often comes at an incredibly difficult time when we feel least able to manage. Supporting Humanity can help you think through what you need to do.
Immediately after someone dies
The first thing to do when someone dies depends on the circumstances of their death.
If someone dies at home and their death was expected
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 then completes their part of a medical certificate which says the cause of death. This is then sent to a medical examiner (ME/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 a funeral director of your choice who will move the body.
If someone dies at home unexpectedly
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.
If someone dies 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.
The body will usually be kept in the hospital mortuary until the relatives 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.
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. However, if it’s not in English, you’ll probably need to get a certified translation if you’re dealing with the person’s affairs. You might also choose to register the death with UK authorities. To do this, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). You can call them on 020 7008 5000.
Get Help with Funeral Costs
Funeral Expenses Payment can help pay for some of the costs of the following:
- burial fees for a particular plot
- cremation fees, including the cost of the doctor’s certificate
- travel to arrange or go to the funeral
- the cost of moving the body within the UK, if it’s being moved more than 50 miles
- death certificates or other documents
You can also get up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin. The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral.
How much you get depends on your circumstances. This includes any other money that’s available to cover the costs, for example from an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.
For more information please visit: Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment): How it works – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)