What to do When Someone Passes Away

The passing of a relative or friend is one of the most distressing events we have to deal with in life. It’s understandable that you may be too distressed to know where to begin with the process. This guide will aim to help you to know what to do, and will talk you through the first steps and who to notify.

First Steps

Depending on where the death occurs, the first steps may vary slightly:

If the Death Occurs at Home or in Another Private Residence:

It is important to contact the deceased’s GP as soon as possible, or try to contact the practice’s out of hours service. If no one can be contacted or the deceased person did not have a GP, then call for an ambulance.

A GP or medical professional can provide a Cause of Death Certificate for you. Keep this somewhere safe as you will need it for registering the death later on.

Once you have notified the GP, you can then get in touch with your chosen funeral director. The funeral director can only collect the deceased’s body once the Cause of Death Certificate has been completed, but you can still notify them so they will be prepared to make their arrangements.

Occasionally a GP will request a coroner to determine the cause of death before the certificate can be completed. Make sure to let your funeral director know if a coroner does become involved.

When is Best to Call the Funeral Director?

Before we explain the processes for when a death occurs in other places, you might be wondering when is best to contact a funeral director.

Though it’s a difficult time to be making decisions, you should take time to choose the right funeral directors. You want to get the best service possible for your lost loved one. It might be a good idea to start researching after a terminal diagnosis or a clear deterioration of health.

Even though it’s tough to think about and you may want to avoid facing it, doing this will give you more time to make the right choice and research.

To find local funeral directors in Essex for example, enter a search term such as funeral directors Basildon to compare directors in your area. Remember that you should feel free to speak to them directly and that a good funeral director should be understanding, empathetic and attentive to your requests.

If the Death Occurs at a Care Home, Hospice or Hospital:

The process is very similar in these cases, the staff can liaise with both the doctor and funeral director on your behalf. It is recommended to give the details of your chosen funeral directors to the care home or hospice. At a hospital, they will also take care of the Cause of Death Certificate.

If you have not yet chosen a funeral director, the staff can also contact a local funeral home for you. You are free to choose another funeral director if this does happen. It is also advised to let your funeral director know as soon as possible, such as the next working day, when a death has occurred.

Hospitals have a mortuary that allows you to view the deceased, but you can also wait and visit in the chapel of rest at the funeral home.

If a Death Occurs in a Public Place:

Depending on the location where this occurs, there are two main types. These types are known as “managed” and “unmanaged”. Managed refers to a public area such as a hotel or shopping mall.

The management of these areas should be contacted immediately; they can then call an ambulance for you. If you cannot contact management, you can also do this yourself.

Unmanaged refers to a public place like a park, street or trains and buses. If a death occurs in this location call 999 to inform both the police and request an ambulance. A coroner is more likely to be involved in this situation as the death would be considered unexpected.

Funeral Proceedings

Once the certificate and funeral home is notified, you can then proceed with the funeral arrangements. Speak to your chosen funeral director for advice, funeral packages and more information.