When someone dies

Where the death occurred

In a home or care home
When death occurs in a private residence or nursing home, the first thing a person must do is to get in touch with the deceased’s doctor or one who is on call to confirm the death. The doctor will then issue a medical death certificate that confirms the cause of death. This will then be used to register the death at the registration office. In the event that cremation is required, the doctor needs to be informed, as necessary paperwork needs to be provided. Once the death has been certified, you can contact the funeral directors at James Stevenson & Son who will visit you to discuss the next step.

In a hospital or hospice
When death takes place in a hospital or hospice, the doctor who is in charge of tending to the deceased will issue a medical certificate that confirms the cause of death. This can be done soon after the death or maybe even the next morning, depending on the time of death and the availability of the doctor. The deceased will be moved to the mortuary, where the funeral director will work with the staff to arrange moving the body of the deceased to the funeral home once all the formalities are over. No matter what time the death has occurred, James Stevenson & Son will be available to help and advise you.

Unexpected death
When death happens suddenly or tragically, the coroner will get involved and the deceased will be moved from the place of death to the regional mortuary. Here a detailed examination will be done to determine the cause of death. In such situations, the funeral will be delayed for one or two days because of coroner’s examination.

Death overseas
When death happens abroad it needs to be registered following the laws of that country. The British Consulate in that country should also be notified about the death as they may be able to arrange for the deceased to be transferred back to the UK as soon as possible. If the death was not due to natural causes, a post mortem or an inquest needs to be done.