First Steps
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The information below will guide you quickly and simply through everything you need to do in the event of a death. Different actions are required for different locations so please choose the location relevant to you. If you would rather speak to someone directly then we are available 24 hours a day to give help and advice, please give us a call on 01702 436000
If the death has occurred at home or in a private residence it is important that the deceased’s GP is contacted as soon as possible. If the GP cannot be contacted then call the out-of-hours service for the practice. If the deceased does not have a GP or you cannot get hold of the out of hours service then an ambulance should be called. The GP or medical professional will provide a Cause of Death Certificate, keep hold of this as you will need it to register the death later.
Once you have called the GP you should then call your chosen Funeral Director. The Funeral Director cannot collect the deceased until the GP has arrived and provided the Cause of Death Certificate (this can take several hours) but they should be made aware so that they can be prepared.
Sometimes the GP will not provide a Cause of Death Certificate but will request that the Coroner’s Service become involved.
Once the GP has given you the Cause of Death Certificate you should call your Funeral Director again and ask them to take the deceased into their care. Take your time to say your farewells but also remember that any good funeral director will let you view your loved one in their Chapel of Rest later.
If the GP decides that the coroner needs to be involved then he will arrange for the Coroner to collect the deceased. In this case please call your Funeral Director to let them know that the coroner is involved. It is important to also inform the Coroner about who your chosen Funeral Director is. This does not need to be done immediately, usually the coroner will contact you to confirm these details.
The contact number for the Essex Coroner is 0333 013 5000
If the deceased is in a care home or hospice then the staff will liaise with both the doctor and Funeral Director for you. In such a case it is highly advisable to give the care home or hospice the details of your chosen Funeral Director ahead of time, this will ensure that your loved one is placed in the care of the people you have chosen.
If you have not chosen a Funeral Director the care home will usually contact a local Funeral Home for you. In this event you are free to choose another funeral director and have the deceased moved if you so wish.
Once the GP has provided the Cause of Death Certificate to the home or hospice they will contact your chosen Funeral Director and ask them to take the deceased into their care. If you are present please take your time to say your farewells but also remember that any good funeral director will let you view your loved one in their Chapel of Rest later.
If the GP decides that the coroner needs to be involved then the home or hospice will arrange for the Coroner to collect the deceased. In this case the home may not have informed your funeral director of the death so it is advisable that you call them on the next working day and let them know the situation. It is important to also inform the Coroner about who your chosen Funeral Director is. This does not need to be done immediately, usually the coroner will contact you to confirm these details.
The contact number for the Essex Coroner is 0333 013 5000
If your loved one passes away in hospital then the hospital staff will arrange everything and take care of the Cause of Death Certificate. In this case there is no immediate rush however it is advisable to inform your Funeral Director on the next working day so that they are aware of the situation and things can be sorted out as quickly as possible for you.
If the cause of death certificate has been issued by the hospital then your Funeral Director can usually take the deceased into their care within a few days depending on hospital procedures and administration. It is possible to view the deceased in the hospital mortuary or you can wait and view in the chapel of rest at the funeral home.
If for some reason the Coroner needs to be involved then this can mean a delay before the Funeral Director can take the deceased into their care. The Funeral Director has no input or control once the Coroner is involved and must await the result of any inquiry before they can act.
The contact number for the Essex Coroner is 0333 013 5000
If a death occurs in a public place then there are two main types of location that are relevant, these being “Managed” and “Unmanaged”.
Managed – If a death occurs in a public area that has a management, such as a hotel, a gym or a shopping mall then the facility management should be informed immediately. They should then contact the correct authorities and arrange for an ambulance. If you cannot contact the management immediately then call an ambulance yourself.
Unmanaged – This includes areas such as public parks, public streets and public transport. Should a death occur in any unmanaged public place call 999 immediately to inform the police and to request an ambulance.
In both cases the deceased will be taken to hospital. It is advisable to contact your chosen Funeral Director on the first working day after this to inform them, or to find a suitable Funeral Director at the earliest opportunity.
When a death occurs unexpectedly in a public place there is a far higher possibility that the Coroner will be involved. If, however, the hospital doctor signs the Cause of Death Certificate then your Funeral Director can usually take the deceased into their care within a few days depending on hospital procedures and administration.
This is far more likely when death has occurred unexpectedly in a public place. This can mean a significant delay before the Funeral Director can take the deceased into their care. The Funeral Director has no input or control once the Coroner is involved and must await the result of any inquiry before they can act.
The contact number for the Essex Coroner is 0333 013 5000
If the doctor cannot certify the Cause of Death, often in the event of a sudden or unexpected death, then they will inform the Coroner. This may also occur if the deceased has not seen their doctor within 28 days before passing. If this happens then the Coroner will arrange for the deceased to be taken into the Coroners Service at the local hospital where a post mortem may need to be done. Please keep in mind that if the coroner chooses to perform a post mortem the process can, unfortunately, be delayed significantly.
We strongly advise that the coroner be informed of your chosen Funeral Director in order that further delays be averted. Sometimes the Coroner decides to take no action in which case the situation is handled as a hospital release just as if the person passed away in Hospital.
If you would like the circumstances of the death investigated you should notify the medical expert in attendance and request an investigation by the coroner. If you suspect foul play in any way you should inform the police immediately.
While the information presented here should tell you most of what you need you may have unanswered questions or just need some help and support in dealing with the death of a loved one. Please do not hesitate to call us on 01702 436000 any time of the day or night and we will be more than happy to support and advise you at this difficult time.
