If someone dies at home, telephone your family doctor, who will visit to confirm that their patient has died. In the case of a nursing home death, the staff will arrange for the doctor to visit.

Contact your local Funeral Director

When the doctor has established the cause of death, they will normally issue the medical certificate of death. In some cases you may be asked to collect the certificate from the surgery. After this, contact your funeral director immediately. They will arrange for a suitable time, day or night, to visit you.

The funeral director will ask you where you would like the person who has died to rest before the funeral. This can be at your own home, the home of the person who has died, or at the funeral home.

If you choose your own home, or the home of the person who has died, we recommend that you still allow the funeral director to take them to our premises, to be returned home before the funeral when all of the necessary care and attention has been completed.

Belongings

You will also need to consider if any jewellery or belongings are to remain with the person who has died or if they are to be returned to you.