What To Do When Death Happens

It is hard to come to terms with death, but the family and friends who have been left behind must come together to help them with the next steps after their passing. To help you with what to do when death happens, we have put together a list of steps to make the process just that little bit easier for you. 

Death outside of the home

If your loved one has passed away at a hospital or care home, the staff of the establishment will contact their GP or the attending medical professional on your behalf. The medical professional will verify the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) through the new Electronic Medical Certification System (EMCS). This electronic certificate will be accessible to the relevant authorities, including the local registry office.

Death at home

Should a loved one die at home, you will need to contact their doctor or an out-of-hours medical service to let them know of their death. The GP or attending medical professional will verify the death and issue an MCCD through the EMCS. There is no longer a need to physically collect the certificate as it will be sent directly to the registrar electronically.

Contacting a coroner

If medical professionals are not able to issue an MCCD for any reason, the death is reported to the coroner. The coroner will investigate all aspects of the death, and will decide whether a post mortem examination is required in order to establish the cause of death and clarify whether the coroner is able to give permission for an MCCD to be issued.

Furthermore, the coroner’s office will produce any paperwork required by the funeral director and may also, in some circumstances, register the death as well. For more information, you can download and read the helpful guide provided by The Ministry of Justice.

Once you have obtained the MCCD

After the MCCD has been issued electronically, you will need to contact your local funeral directors – Stinsons Independent Family Funeral Directors. We service Leicestershire, including Coalville, Loughborough, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Melton Mowbray, and the surrounding areas and provide you with around-the-clock assistance every day of the year. We will be able to arrange careful conveyance of your loved one so that they can rest in our care whilst we plan their send-off together. 

Registration Of A Death

The death of a loved one should be registered within 5 working days from when the Medical Examiner has approved the Cause of Death.  – to do this, you will need to call and make an appointment with your local registrar. You may register the death if you are:

• A close relative of the deceased

• A relative in attendance during the last illness

• A relative in the district where the death occurred

• A person present at the death
• The person arranging the funeral

On the day of your appointment, the registrar will already have access to the MCCD through the EMCS. You will need to provide additional information such as:

• The current address of the deceased

• If married/in a civil partnership, the date of birth of the surviving significant other

• The date and place of birth of the deceased

• Their full name (including their maiden name if they were married)

• Their occupation (including the full name and occupation of their spouse/civil partner)
• Time, date, and place of death

To verify the deceased, you may need to provide:

• Birth certificate

• If applicable, a marriage or civil partnership certificate

• Passport

• Proof of address (council tax or utility bill)
• Your identification

The registrar will provide you with two certificates, one green and one white. The green certificate must be handed to the funeral director in order for a funeral to take place, and the white certificate is for social security purposes.

Additionally, the registrar will offer copies of the death certificate, which may be required for:

• The will

• Pensions

• Bank accounts

• Life insurance policies

• Savings bank certificates
• Premium bonds

The registrar can report a death to most government organisations through the “Tell Us Once” service, accessible at the point of registration.

After you have supplied the registrar with all the required information, your green certificate will enable you to have your loved one buried or cremated – depending on their final wishes. 

Your next step is to speak with your chosen funeral directors, Stinsons Independent Family Funeral Directors, so that we can work together to plan your loved one’s funeral, cremation or burial service. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year, either via telephone, our online contact form, or in person at our funeral home.