What to do when someone dies

It’s never too early to get in touch, even before you need us. When someone has died, we’ll help you take the first steps.

If you need to arrange a baby or child’s funeral, please call us so we can offer the right guidance from your very first conversation.

Agreeing to bring your loved one into our care, and when

• For us to bring your loved one into our care, death has to be verified by a medical authority (doctor, nurse, paramedic or similar).    

• Some families want us to come as soon as possible – and we can.  Others may want time to say goodbye or for other family members to gather.  It’s entirely up to you. 

• If we’re coming to a private residential or care home, someone on site will need to provide us with written authorisation on our consent form.  For hospitals, this authorisation must be provided in writing beforehand and can be done electronically.

We bring your loved one into our care where they can be looked after by our team of professionals

• We’ll provide confirmation of the location and nearby branches. 

• It’s not goodbye.  Families have an opportunity to visit loved ones in the branch nearest to them, a family home or place of worship. 

In order for a funeral to take place, the death has to be registered so it is important to start this process as soon as possible.

In Scotland (except Dundee, Angus and Fife) 

In Scotland it is possible that a death certificate will be selected for review.  If this is the case, your funeral director will advise on next steps and timescales. For deaths in Scotland, the next of kin will be contacted by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages who will make an appointment locally to register the death. This may be by email or phone.

Angus and Fife

In Scotland it is possible that a death certificate will be selected for review.  If this is the case, your funeral director will advise on next steps and timescales. For deaths in Angus and Fife, families should contact the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to arrange an appointment to register the death.

In England

Deaths in England must be registered in the local authority in which the death took place.  Next of kin will be contacted by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to arrange an appointment to register the death, which must be completed within five days of that time.  Where a coroner is involved, registration guidance will be given directly to the families as longer timescales may apply.

Some registrars issue a pre-screening questionnaire and others will use the appointment to confirm the following essential information. For the person who’s died, you’ll need:

• • Full name and occupation
  • Full postal address
  • Date and country of birth
  • National Insurance number
  • If the deceased was married or a civil partner at the date of death, tell the registrar the full name and date of birth of the surving widow, widower or civil partner
  • Father’s full name and occupation for any former spouses or civil partners
  • Details of any pension, benefits or allowance from public funds
  • The name and address of NHS doctor
  • Parental names and occupations
  • Marital status with partner(s) name, date of birth and occupation

You can make funeral arrangements any time before a death. However, only once registration is fully complete can these arrangements be formally announced or confirmed. Our teams will guide families as to the timescales likely to be involved.

Embalming slows down the natural process that occurs after someone dies. It’s a service offered to allow families a safe way to say goodbye, especially if the funeral is likely to be some days later.

If you’re with your loved one, this is a good time to decide what clothes you’d like us to dress them in, or which personal effects you want to be with them. Or you can arrange for clothing to be dropped off or collected in the days that follow.

Coming into our care isn’t the last time you’ll be able to see your loved one again. We encourage visiting and can arrange this in the branch nearest to you, at home or in a place of worship. In our branches, you can visit a loved one as often as you want, in groups or solo visits. It’s really important you have this time to say goodbye, and we’ll do whatever we can to make these visits as peaceful as possible.

Knowing the potential timescale of the funeral is important. In reality, the date of a funeral is influenced by many factors: time of year, personal circumstances, type of funeral and regional considerations. It’s easier to delay a funeral than to rush the planning stage. Once we know more about your requirements, your funeral director will guide you, so in turn, you can make or announce arrangements.

To help you and your family approach the many decisions needed we’ll arrange a meeting with a funeral director who will be your point of contact throughout. These are usually done in-person but it’s equally possible to host video calls or a blend of both throughout. We can do this immediately or at a time and date that suits you, especially if you want to involve others who may not be local.