When someone passes away at home, what you need to do first depends on whether it was expected or sudden. It is a stressful moment, but you do not have to rush everything at once.
Expected Deaths
If the person was ill and the death was expected, call their GP or the local out-of-hours service on 111. A doctor or community nurse needs to come to the house to confirm the death. Once they have been, the doctor will write up the medical certificate showing the cause of death. After the medical check is complete, you can call a funeral director to collect the person.
Expected deaths are still heart-breaking for loved ones, and it is important to ensure you have support while grieving.
Sudden Or Unexpected Deaths
If someone dies suddenly or without warning, call 999 right away. Paramedics will come out, and because the death was unexpected, police officers will also turn up as a standard procedure. The police are simply there to collect details for the coroner, who looks into sudden deaths. The coroner will usually arrange for a team to move the person to a local mortuary while they work out the cause of death.
It is important to seek support if you are in the situation of finding someone who has unexpectedly passed away.
Practical Steps To Follow
Once the initial medical calls are done, you can move on to the practical side of things:
- Call a local funeral director to start making plans.
- Book an appointment at the local register office to officially register the death within five days.
- Let close family, friends, and the home insurer know what has happened.
- Find the will and begin the probate process, if applicable
For more helpful advice on funerals, bereavement, end-of-life planning and the practical steps that follow a death, take a look through our blog page, where you will find further guides and information to support you and your family during difficult times.
