What to do when someone dies
This topic covers off the following themes:
What to do when someone dies in hospital
When someone dies in hospital, the hospital staff will contact the Next of Kin and advise of the situation. If required, the hospital will request a hospital post-mortem examination. Once the cause of death is confirmed, a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be issued.
The body is kept in the hospital mortuary until it can be collected. If the body is to be cremated, it is recommended that the doctor is informed. Once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been issued, the death can then be registered. The death must be registered within five days of receiving the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
What to do when someone dies at home or in a care home
If the death occurs at home and is unexpected, immediately call 999 and ask for support from the police or ambulance service. The paramedics will be able to confirm the death. A doctor will need to visit the deceased at home and issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death in order for the death to be registered.
If the death occurs at a care home, the care home staff or manager will be able to advise on what to do next. They will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death in order for the death to be registered. They will also care for the body until the funeral director or other party comes to remove the body.
Under certain circumstances, the care home may need to report the death to a coroner for further examination.
What to do when someone dies in a public place
If the death occurs in a public place, immediately call 999 and ask for support from the police or ambulance service. A public place can be defined as a location that is not a home, hospital or care facility. This could be a restaurant, nightclub, store or a street.
Once the emergency services arrive on the scene, they will do their best to revive the person. If unsuccessful, the police will typically organise the funeral director linked to the local coroner to relocate the body to the nearest public mortuary. In some instances, the ambulance service may do this instead of the funeral director.
In most cases, deaths that occur in public places will be referred to the coroner. Click here to find out what happens when a coroner is involved.
What to do when someone dies overseas
If someone passes away while overseas, the death needs to be registered with the local authorities in the country where the person died. The British Consul can help you do this. The death will also need to be registered with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
If you would like to hold a funeral service in the UK, you must repatriate the body. To find out more about the repatriation process, click here.
What to do when someone dies step by step guide
When someone dies, there are a number of tasks that need to be completed. This step by step checklist highlights what needs to be completed when someone dies:
Letting people know
Letting people know that someone has died is a difficult task. If you’re comfortable doing so, the news can often best be delivered in person. When this isn’t possible, over the phone can also work. It may be helpful to prepare what you are going to say in advance.
There is no legal requirement to notify friends and relatives about the death of someone however, it is encouraged.
Check for important paperwork
It is important to have the following information and paperwork available to help with the next processes following a death:
1. Information
Full name and surname of the deceased
Date and place of death and usual address
Marital status (single, married, widowed or divorced)
Date and place of birth
Occupation of the deceased (if the deceased was a wife or widow, the full names and occupation of her husband or deceased husband will be required)
If the deceased was a child, the full names and occupation of the father will be required, or where the parents are not married the full names and occupation of the mother will be required
Maiden surname if the deceased was a woman who was married
The name and address of the deceased's GP
Details of any pension apart from a state pension that the deceased may have held
The deceased's religion
2. Documents
Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (signed by a doctor) for registering the death
Birth Certificate
Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificates
NHS Number/NHS Medical Card
Organ Donor Card
Correspondence confirming payment to the deceased of benefits (normally Jobs and Benefits offices), tax credits (HM Revenue & Customs) and/or State Pension (Department for Work and Pensions)
Child Benefit number (if relevant)
The Will, if there is one
Bank and Building Society account statements
Investment Statements or Share Certificates
Personal or company pension account statements
Mortgage statement
Credit card statements
Utility or Rates bills in the deceased's name
Rental agreements/statements (private or local authority)
Other unpaid bills
Leases, hire purchase agreements or similar (for example for equipment, car or furniture)
Educational loan statements
Any other loan statements
Property deeds or leases (main home and any other at home or abroad)
Property keys
Who to inform when someone dies
Click here to read what happens when someone dies at a hospital.
Click here to read what happens when someone dies at home or a care home.
Click here to read what happens when someone dies in a public place.
No matter how someone dies, a doctor or coroner will always need to examine the body in order to write out the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Once the Medical Certificate is received, the death must be registered at the relevant Registrar’s Office.
The government departments will also need to be notified as soon as the death certificate is received. This includes:
Passport Office
HM Revenue & Customers
Department for Work and Pensions
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Local council for their Council Tax
Public sector or armed forces pension scheme (if applicable)
Managing the estate
When there is a Will, the responsibility of managing the estate falls on the shoulders of the Executor. Where there is no Will, this responsibility lies with the Next of Kin who will then be known as the Administrator. The Executor or Administrator are tasked with the responsibility of completing the estate administration process – that is, taking care of the affairs of someone after they have died. To find out more about the estate administration process, click here.
The Executor or Administrator does not have to take on this responsibility. They can instruct a professional to complete the estate administration process in their place. Click here to read more about the options available to Executors and Administrators.