What to do when someone dies
The process after someone dies
Clear guidance for the first steps after an expected or unexpected death, at home, in hospital or in a care setting.
When someone dies, it may be difficult to take in information, or know what needs to happen. The process you follow and the steps you need to take depend on where the person died and whether their death was expected.
1. The death is verified
A trained healthcare professional must first confirm that the person has died. This is called verification of death.
If the person dies in a hospital, hospice or care home, the organisation will normally arrange verification. Following an expected death at home, the family will usually need to contact the GP, community nursing team or NHS 111.
Once the death has been verified, we can usually arrange to bring the person into our care. The death does not normally need to have been registered first. If the coroner's office is involved, we may need to wait until they release your loved one.
2. The cause of death is established
Verification confirms that the person has died. It does not record why they died.
For most expected or natural deaths, a doctor completes a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death stating the proposed medical cause. If the cause cannot be established, or the death was sudden, unexpected or occurred in circumstances that require investigation, it will be referred to the coroner.
3. The cause of death is independently reviewed
Every death in England and Wales is independently reviewed. If the death is not investigated by a coroner, it is reviewed by an NHS medical examiner.
For deaths reviewed by a Medical Examiner, their office will examine the relevant medical information and normally contact the family before sending the paperwork to the register office.
4. The death is registered
The Medical Examiner’s office or the coroner will tell the family when the required paperwork has been sent and the death can be registered.
Registration creates the official legal record of the death. It enables the relevant burial or cremation documents to be issued, provides death certificates for dealing with the person’s affairs and gives access to the Tell Us Once service.
The death should normally be registered within five days of the Medical Examiner confirming that the family can proceed. This period begins when the required paperwork has been completed, not necessarily on the date the person died.
5. The funeral arrangements can be confirmed
You can contact us and begin discussing the funeral before the death has been registered. Once the death has been verified, we can usually arrange to bring your loved one into our care. If the coroner is involved, we will need to wait until the coroner has authorised release and the mortuary has completed its release procedures.
The funeral date may need to remain provisional until the legal authority for burial or cremation has been received. If the coroner is involved, different paperwork may be issued to allow the funeral to proceed. If an inquest is required, the funeral can usually take place before the inquest has concluded, once the coroner has authorised release and issued the necessary documents
If someone dies at home
When the death was expected
An expected death may follow an illness, palliative care or an agreed end-of-life care plan.
Contact the person’s GP, community nursing team, hospice team or the healthcare number you have been given. Outside normal hours, call NHS 111. A suitable healthcare professional will arrange for the death to be verified.
Once the death has been verified, contact Valentines when you are ready. We will ask some simple questions, explain what will happen when we arrive and arrange to bring the person who has died into our care.
When the death was sudden or unexpected
Call 999 and follow the emergency operator’s instructions. Do not move the person or disturb the immediate area unless you are told to do so or someone else is in danger.
The ambulance service and, where necessary, the police will attend. The death will usually be referred to the coroner, who will decide whether further investigation is required.
The person who has died may initially be taken to a hospital or public mortuary by a funeral director acting for the coroner. This does not determine which funeral director the family must use. You can appoint Valentines, and we will arrange to bring your loved one into our care once the coroner authorises their release.
If someone dies in hospital
Hospital staff will verify the death and begin the medical certification process. If the death needs to be investigated, the hospital will refer the case to the coroner's office.
The hospital’s bereavement or Medical Examiner team will normally contact the person representing the family. They will explain:
- what happens to the person who has died
- whether the Medical Examiner or coroner is involved
- when the death can be registered
- when the hospital can release the person to the chosen funeral director.
You can contact Valentines and begin discussing the funeral before the death is registered. Tell the hospital that you have appointed us, or ask us to liaise with the hospital on your behalf.
Your loved one will usually remain in the hospital mortuary until the hospital has completed its release procedures. We will confirm when they have been brought safely into our care.
If someone dies in a care home or hospice
If someone dies in a care home
Care-home staff will follow the person’s care plan and arrange for an appropriately trained healthcare professional to verify the death. They will contact the family and ask which funeral director has been chosen.
Once the death has been verified and the care home confirms that the person can be released, we can arrange to bring them into our care. Registration normally takes place later.
If the death was unexpected or its cause is unclear, the care home will contact the appropriate medical professionals or emergency services and the death may be referred to the coroner.
If someone dies in a hospice
Hospice staff will verify the death, support the family and begin the necessary medical and administrative process.
They should explain about the death being reviewed by the Medical Examiner and when the chosen funeral director can attend.
You can ask the hospice to contact us or speak to us directly. Once the death has been verified and the hospice has authorised release, we can bring your loved one into our care.
When the death was unexpected
Call 999 immediately. Do not move the person or disturb the room unless the emergency operator tells you to do so or someone is in danger.
The ambulance service and, where required, the police will attend. A sudden, unexpected or unexplained death may be referred to the coroner. The person who has died may initially be taken to a hospital mortuary by a funeral director acting on behalf of the coroner.
You do not have to use the funeral director who carries out this initial transfer. You remain free to appoint your own choice of funeral once the coroner has authorised the person’s release.
When the coroner is involved
A referral to the coroner does not necessarily mean that anyone has done something wrong.
The coroner investigates certain deaths, including those that are sudden, unexplained, violent or unnatural, or where a medical practitioner cannot confirm the cause of death. The coroner may decide that no further investigation is required, arrange a post-mortem examination or open an inquest.
The coroner’s office will normally keep the family informed. Once the coroner is satisfied that no further examination of the person is required, they can authorise their release for the funeral.
The coroner’s authorisation does not always mean that your loved one can be collected from the hospital or public mortuary immediately. The mortuary must receive the relevant paperwork, complete its own release procedures and arrange collection with the appointed funeral director. There may therefore be a short interval between the coroner authorising release and your loved one being physically transferred into our care.
We will liaise with the coroner’s office and the mortuary, arrange collection as soon as they confirm it can take place and let you know when your loved one is safely in our care.
You can still contact Valentines and begin discussing the funeral while the coroner’s investigation is taking place. Any proposed date will remain provisional until the coroner has authorised release and the remaining mortuary arrangements have been confirmed.
Questions about what happens after someone dies
No. The death must first be verified by an appropriately trained healthcare professional, but it does not normally need to have been registered.
Following an expected death at home, the verification paperwork allows the funeral director to bring the person who has died into their care. In a hospital, hospice or care home, the setting will complete its own verification and release procedures before confirming that the funeral director can attend.
If the death has been referred to the coroner, your loved one can only be brought into Valentines’ care once the coroner has authorised their release.
Yes. You can contact us as soon as you need guidance.
We can explain the immediate steps, liaise with the hospital, care setting or coroner where required, and begin discussing the funeral. The arrangements may remain provisional until the legal documents allowing the burial or cremation to proceed have been issued.
For deaths certified by a doctor, recent national data recorded a median of approximately eight days between the death and registration. Most were registered within 14 days, but the time required varies between individual cases.
The legal five-day registration period does not normally begin on the date the person died. It begins when the Medical Examiner has completed the review and tells the person registering the death that they can proceed.
Registration may take longer if:
- the doctor or Medical Examiner needs further medical information;
- the proposed cause of death requires clarification
- the relevant medical records are not immediately available
- the death is referred to the coroner
- a post-mortem examination or further tests are required.
The Medical Examiner’s office or coroner’s office should explain which stage has been reached and when registration can take place.
Yes. You can choose a funeral director and begin making arrangements before the death is registered.
The funeral itself can usually only take place once the death has been registered and the legal authority for burial or cremation has been issued. Different documents may be provided where the coroner is involved.
The coroner may investigate when the cause of death is unknown, the death was sudden, violent or unnatural, or there are other circumstances that require examination.
While an investigation is taking place, the coroner has temporary legal control of the person who has died. They will authorise release for the funeral once any necessary examinations have been completed and no further examination is required.
If an inquest is required, the funeral can often take place before the inquest is concluded. The coroner can also provide an interim death certificate to help the family deal with practical and administrative matters while awaiting the final registration.
Further information and support
What to do after someone dies (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
Government guidance covering registration, arranging the funeral, notifying organisations, bereavement support and dealing with the person’s estate.
Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
Official guidance explaining coroner investigations, post-mortem examinations, release for the funeral, registration and the inquest process.
The INQUEST Handbook (opens in a new tab)
A detailed independent guide for bereaved families and friends dealing with an investigation or inquest in England and Wales.
Tell Us Once (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
A government service that allows a death to be reported to several government departments through one process. It can be used after registration or where the coroner has provided a final or interim death certificate.
Talk to someone who can help
If someone has died or you need immediate guidance, call either of our branch numbers for 24-hour assistance.
You do not need to know what to ask. We will take you through the next steps.
For non-urgent enquiries, you can request an estimate or contact us online. We will respond during office hours 09:00-16:00.