Supporting You Through Each Stage
The initial days following a bereavement can feel incredibly difficult and confusing. Our dedicated team is on hand to guide you through the practicalities, providing clear information and heartfelt care when you need it most.
Constant Care and Support
Day or night, our commitment to looking after your family never stops. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for immediate assistance and guidance.
Barkingside – 0208 550 4047
Chingford – 0208 559 3235
Practical Advice Following a Bereavement
Facing the initial days of a loss brings many immediate responsibilities. Use our step-by-step resources to understand exactly who to contact first and how to register a death.
We’re here when you need us most
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call us any time on: 020 8592 0164
(or your local West & Coe office)
What to do when someone dies
Our step by step guide helps you navigate the immediate steps and the essential arrangements that need to be made during this difficult time.
Download our checklist
A helpful printable list of key things to remember in the days following a loss — from who to notify, to documents you may need.
What to Do When Someone Dies
Following a death whether at home, hospital or care home, any trained healthcare professional (i.e. Doctor, Registered Nurse or Paramedic) can confirm a person has died.
If someone dies at home
After a death has been confirmed, we are able to be with you whenever you prefer.
Most families would require us to be with them shortly afterwards, some however may wish to spend more time with their loved one. Whatever the wishes, our professional and caring staff will be with you anytime, day or night to move back to our Chapel of Rest. We will also be on hand to guide you through the registration process.
Is Unexpected
When a death is unexpected and the cause is unclear or of a sudden nature, an accident or industrial disease, the coroner is legally bound to become involved. In most cases their involvement is a formality and although an examination may be necessary to ascertain the cause of death, this should not delay the funeral taking place. In circumstances where the coroner can not establish the cause of death or is a result of an industrial disease or accident a formal inquest may be held. In this case you will be informed by the coroner and advised of the necessary procedures.
Following a death whether at home, hospital or care home, any trained healthcare professional (i.e. Doctor, Registered Nurse or Paramedic) can confirm a person has died.
In a Nursing and Care Home
Once a death has been confirmed, our professional and caring staff are able to attend and remove your loved one back to our Chapel of Rest. On most occasions the duty manager at the home will contact us on the family’s behalf.
We prioritise discretion and sensitivity when attending a nursing or care home, priding ourselves on maintaining the highest level of respect for your loved one, the staff, and other residents .
Following a death whether at home, hospital or care home, any trained healthcare professional (i.e. Doctor, Registered Nurse or Paramedic) can confirm a person has died.
In a Hospital
When a death occurs in hospital, the medical staff will take care of arrangements and have the deceased taken to the hospital mortuary. Following the completion of necessary documentation, we will be able to move your loved one back to our Chapel of Rest.
When a death occurs abroad
We are fully aware of all legal processes and requirements and are pleased to advise at any time.
Guidelines
Contact the deceased’s insurance company
- Check for travel, medical, or life insurance policies.
Many policies cover repatriation costs and may provide support for documentation and coordination and may notify the local authorities.
Contact local authorities
- Report the death to the local police or relevant authority in the country where it occurred.
- They will issue an official local death certificate, which you’ll need for all further steps.
Contact the British Embassy or Consulate
The embassy or consulate can:
- Help notify the deceased’s family (if you are not next of kin).
- Provide a list of local funeral directors in the country of death.
- Assist in arranging repatriation (returning the body or ashes home).
- Help you translate and authenticate documents (e.g., death certificate).
- Issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad (in U.S. cases, for example), which can serve as an official record back home.
Obtain documentation
You will typically need:
- The local death certificate (translated and possibly apostilled or legalised).
- The deceased’s passport and identification.
- A certificate of embalming and certificate of sealing the coffin (if repatriating a body).
- A letter from the consulate authorising the transport of remains (if required by airlines or border authorities).
Register the death in the UK
Once you have the foreign death certificate, register the death in the UK. The coroner will need to be informed to verify the cause of death.
- They will advise where and how you register the death in the UK
- and will require translated, legalized copies of documents.
Following a death whether at home, hospital or care home, any trained healthcare professional (i.e. Doctor, Registered Nurse or Paramedic) can confirm a person has died.
If someone dies at home
After a death has been confirmed, we are able to be with you whenever you prefer.
Most families would require us to be with them shortly afterwards, some however may wish to spend more time with their loved one. Whatever the wishes, our professional and caring staff will be with you anytime, day or night to move back to our Chapel of Rest. We will also be on hand to guide you through the registration process.
Is Unexpected
When a death is unexpected and the cause is unclear or of a sudden nature, an accident or industrial disease, the coroner is legally bound to become involved. In most cases their involvement is a formality and although an examination may be necessary to ascertain the cause of death, this should not delay the funeral taking place. In circumstances where the coroner can not establish the cause of death or is a result of an industrial disease or accident a formal inquest may be held. In this case you will be informed by the coroner and advised of the necessary procedures.
Following a death whether at home, hospital or care home, any trained healthcare professional (i.e. Doctor, Registered Nurse or Paramedic) can confirm a person has died.
In a Nursing and Care Home
Once a death has been confirmed, our professional and caring staff are able to attend and remove your loved one back to our Chapel of Rest. On most occasions the duty manager at the home will contact us on the family’s behalf.
We prioritise discretion and sensitivity when attending a nursing or care home, priding ourselves on maintaining the highest level of respect for your loved one, the staff, and other residents .
Following a death whether at home, hospital or care home, any trained healthcare professional (i.e. Doctor, Registered Nurse or Paramedic) can confirm a person has died.
In a Hospital
When a death occurs in hospital, the medical staff will take care of arrangements and have the deceased taken to the hospital mortuary. Following the completion of necessary documentation, we will be able to move your loved one back to our Chapel of Rest.
When a death occurs abroad
We are fully aware of all legal processes and requirements and are pleased to advise at any time.
Guidelines
Contact the deceased’s insurance company
- Check for travel, medical, or life insurance policies.
Many policies cover repatriation costs and may provide support for documentation and coordination and may notify the local authorities.
Contact local authorities
- Report the death to the local police or relevant authority in the country where it occurred.
- They will issue an official local death certificate, which you’ll need for all further steps.
Contact the British Embassy or Consulate
The embassy or consulate can:
- Help notify the deceased’s family (if you are not next of kin).
- Provide a list of local funeral directors in the country of death.
- Assist in arranging repatriation (returning the body or ashes home).
- Help you translate and authenticate documents (e.g., death certificate).
- Issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad (in U.S. cases, for example), which can serve as an official record back home.
Obtain documentation
You will typically need:
- The local death certificate (translated and possibly apostilled or legalised).
- The deceased’s passport and identification.
- A certificate of embalming and certificate of sealing the coffin (if repatriating a body).
- A letter from the consulate authorising the transport of remains (if required by airlines or border authorities).
Register the death in the UK
Once you have the foreign death certificate, register the death in the UK. The coroner will need to be informed to verify the cause of death.
- They will advise where and how you register the death in the UK
- and will require translated, legalized copies of documents.
Unsure of the Next Steps? We Are Here.
Knowing where to start can be difficult, but you do not have to navigate this alone. Our compassionate team is available to offer any guidance you require. When you are ready, we can discuss full funeral arrangements at one of our local offices, or in the comfort of your own home.
Speak to us 24/7 on 0208 550 4047 or find Your Nearest Office
The Death Certification Process
All deaths across England and Wales are legally subject to an independent medical examiner review for enhanced accuracy. Although an attending healthcare professional, such as a paramedic, nurse, or doctor, is fully qualified to physically confirm a death, the official registration can only be completed once the formal Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been generated.
How the Certification Process Works
Step 1: The Doctor's Assessment:
The attending doctor responsible for your loved one’s care will establish the cause of death. Under current regulations, an attending doctor can finalise this paperwork if they have seen the patient during their lifetime. There is no longer a strict requirement for the doctor to have seen the patient within a specific number of days before death, nor do they need to physically view the deceased after death before the documentation is generated.
Step 2: Medical Examiner Verification:
To maintain complete transparency, the doctor forwards the paperwork and case history to the medical examiner’s office. An independent senior doctor who had no involvement in the case will review all the details to verify the findings.
Step 3: Liaison with the Next of Kin:
The medical examiner’s team will personally contact the family. This step is specifically designed to provide you with total clarity, allowing you to discuss the certificate or raise any questions before things move forward.
Step 4: Secure Transfer to the Registrar:
Following a successful verification, the certificate is transmitted electronically from the medical examiner to the local Register Office. You will receive an official notification confirming the transfer, allowing you to comfortably book your appointment to register the death.
What Happens If the Coroner Becomes Involved?
Why a Referral Occurs: A death is typically reported to a Coroner if the passing was unexplained, sudden, or if a doctor is unable to sign off on a natural cause of death.
Routine Assessments: Please be reassured that a coroner’s involvement is usually a straightforward formality that resolves quickly. Following a standard post-mortem or medical assessment, they will release the official certification directly to the registrar, allowing the family to move forward with standard registration.
The Inquest Process: If the precise cause remains unclear, the coroner will open an investigation or inquest. During this period, your loved one will normally be released into our professional care so funeral preparations can begin. Final registration cannot occur until the inquest finishes, but you will be issued an interim Death Certificate to use for probate and estate administration.
A designated coroner’s officer will liaise directly with your family, keeping you informed of all necessary procedures and legal timelines.
Registering the Death
You can schedule your appointment with the registrar as soon as the medical examiner’s office has securely transmitted the electronic certificate to them.
Statutory Timeframes
Statutory rules require a death to be registered within five days across England and Wales. This designated period starts from the date the coroner or medical examiner clears the documentation, rather than the exact day of passing.
Finding the Register Office
You should contact the Register Office managing the borough where the bereavement took place. To find address details or schedule an interview, use the official search tool at gov.uk/register-offices. Nearly all local authorities require you to book a specific time slot before turning up.
Eligible Informants
Legal regulations state that the person registering (the informant) must be one of the following:
- A relative of the person who died.
- A partner who cohabited with them in a long-term relationship.
- A friend, carer, or neighbour who witnessed the death or was present during their final illness.
- The person in charge of the house, hospital, or care facility where the death took place.
- The individual taking official responsibility for organising the funeral service.
Required Interview Details
During your meeting, the registrar will ask you to provide the following accurate background information:
- Full legal name (plus any maiden names used).
- Date and place of birth, alongside the date and place of death.
- Their last known residential address.
- Their recent line of work or profession.
- Their marital status (married, widowed, divorced, or single).
- Their partner’s full name, birth date, and trade (if applicable).
- Their National Insurance number.
We highly recommend bringing along your loved one’s birth or marriage certificates if available, as this helps prevent any spelling mistakes on the official register.
The Paperwork Provided by the Registrar
The Certificate for Burial or Cremation (The Green Form): This essential document gives legal clearance for the funeral service to go ahead. To save you an extra task, the registrar will typically email this file straight to your chosen funeral director.
Certified Copies of the Death Certificate: You can buy official duplicates during your appointment (priced at £12.50 each). These are necessary for managing financial accounts, insurance policies, and legal probate. Ordering 3 to 4 copies is usually sufficient, as most institutions will inspect the original and send it back to you. You can also order extra copies online in the future if required.
Helpful Guidance
We’ve created a downloadable booklet to help you feel more in control during these early days.
We Are Here to Listen and Support
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a question. A member of our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Words from the
Families We’ve Helped
