If your loved one passes away expectedly at home, the first thing to do is contact their doctor. The doctor will need to attend to verify the death. This must be done before contacting your chosen funeral directors.

The doctor who has visited your loved one will then need to complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This will usually be completed when the doctor visits your home; however it is usual for the doctor to complete this at the surgery where you will then need to collect it.

Once you have the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death you then need to book an appointment with the registrar in the sub-district of which the death occurred. This is where you will obtain your official death certificates and your ‘Green Certificate’. The Green Certificate needs to be given to your chosen funeral director as soon as possible.

If your loved one has passed away expectedly in hospital, you will need to firstly make contact with your chosen funeral directors and inform them of the death.

We as funeral directors are not permitted to bringing your loved one into our care until we have the ‘Green Certificate’. To obtain the Green Certificate you need to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the hospital at which the death occurred. You will then need to book an appointment with the registrar in the sub-district of which the death occurred. The death can sometimes be registered at the Hospital the same time you collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This is where you will then be given your official death certificates and your ‘Green Certificate’.

If your loved ones wishes were to be cremated then your funeral director will have to order the necessary Cremation forms. These normally take a few days to be completed. Once these have been completed then your funeral director can book an appointment to bring your loved one straight into their care.

If your loved one has passed away expectedly in a Nursing Home or Hospice then the nursing staff will ask you to choose a funeral director. If we are your chosen funeral director then the staff there will call us to inform us of your loved ones passing. We will then bring your loved one into our care. If you are not still with your loved one when we get there then a call will be made to the next of kin to inform you of the next steps and to say that your loved one is safe and in our chapel of rest.

You will then need to collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the GP who was caring for your loved one. Once you have the certificate then an appointment needs to be made with the registrar in the sub-district of which the death occurred. You will then be given your official death certificates and the ‘Green Certificate’. This certificate needs to be given to your funeral director as soon as possible. You can then contact us to book an appointment to start the necessary funeral arrangements.

If your loved one passes away unexpectedly then the process of what to do next is slightly different. The death will be referred to the HM Coroner who will have full control over paperwork and the release of your loved one into our care. Your loved one will remain at the local hospital where a post mortem may be necessary. If a post mortem is required then this will have to happen before we can bring your loved one into our care. The coroner will be in contact with you to inform you on what is to happen next. In this case there will NOT be a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death certificate issued.