Losing a loved one makes for a difficult and emotional time, but there are certain things you must do when someone dies.
If the death occurs in hospital
Hospital staff will contact the named 'next of kin'. This may (but it doesn't have to) be a relative. You can, if you want, ask to see the hospital chaplain.
The body will be kept in the hospital mortuary until the executor arranges for it to be taken away. This can be done by a Funeral Director, who will generally have a chapel of rest in which the body can be kept until the funeral.
The hospital will arrange for the nearest relative to collect the deceased's possessions.
If the death occurs somewhere else
If someone has died somewhere else (not in a hospital) you need to consider whether the death was expected or unexpected.
Expected Death
Often, a death is expected: in this case you should contact the doctor who attended the deceased during their final illness. If the doctor can certify the cause of death they will give you the following:
- a Medical Certificate showing the cause of death (this is free of charge and will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the registrar)
- a formal notice, stating that the doctor has signed the Medical Certificate. The notice also tells you how to register the death.
You may wish to contact the deceased's minister of religion if you haven’t already. Arrangements for the funeral can be made by a funeral director.
If the death followed illness from HIV or AIDS there may be special rules about handling the body. The following organisations can advise you;
- FACTS Health Centre - 23-25 Weston Park, Crouch End, London N8 9SY (Tel: 0208 3489195)
- Terence Higgins Trust
Unexpected Death
If you discover a body, or the person's death is sudden or unexpected, you should contact the following people:
- the family doctor (if known). The NHS website has a list of GPs
- the deceased's nearest relative
- the deceased's minister of religion (if applicable)
- the police, who will help find the people listed above if necessary.
If you have any reason to suspect that the person's death was not due to natural causes, do not touch or remove anything from the room. In such cases, the death may be referred to the coroner, and the doctor might ask the relatives for permission to carry out a post-mortem examination.
The Coroner
You will be advised by the Doctor if the death has to be reported to the Coroner. If it does, then the death cannot be registered - and the funeral cannot take place - without the Coroner's authorisation.
Find out what happens when a death is reported to the Coroner
Probate
The word "probate" often makes us think of drawn out difficulties and delay, but it's not always the case - many simple probates are finished in a month or so.
It's actually just a piece of paper - a document issued by the Probate Registry - confirming that an executor has the right to wind up the estate of someone who has died. The 'estate' is the house, money, savings and other assets left by someone when they die and the 'executor' is the person chosen in the Will to sort out the estate and make sure it goes to the people named in the Will.
For more information on Probate, including application forms, fees etc, visit the DirectGov Wills and Probate page.
Do I have to use a solicitor?
No, but you might find it very helpful. Most solicitors offer probate services and their fee will depend on how much work is involved, the size of the estate etc. If you prefer, you can apply direct to the Probate Registry yourself.
Dealing with their tax, pensions, bank accounts etc
When anyone dies it's important to sort out their tax and National Insurance as soon as possible, as there might be tax to pay or even a rebate due.
There are other things to consider, such as whether the deceased lived in a rented property, had a bank account or any outstanding debts due to them.
The executor or administrator sorts out all of the deceased person's tax affairs, as well as the rest of the estate. You can find out all you need to know at DirectGov.