Where Do I Start When my Loved One Dies?

Death at Home

If your loved one dies at home, there are several things to consider depending on how they died and whether their death was expected or sudden. If they died during the day, there are different steps to take to if they pass away during the night.

Offering a warm and friendly independent service in the tranquil surroundings of the village of Westwell near Ashford, Kent, we will plan your funeral with you and help organise a pre-paid funeral plan to suit your needs.

If Death Happens During the Day – Call the Person’s Doctor

If the death happens during daytime hours and was expected — for example, due to a terminal illness — you should contact the person’s GP (doctor).

A doctor or other qualified medical professional must attend to formally confirm the death before any further arrangements can be made.

If Death Happens During the Night – Call the NHS Helpline on 111

If the death occurs outside normal surgery hours, you should call NHS 111.

They will advise you on what to do next and arrange for an appropriate healthcare professional to attend.

You do not need to make this call immediately — you may take some time to sit with your loved one after they have passed away if you wish.

If Death Happens and it is Unexpected.

If the cause of death is unknown, the area around the person should not be disturbed (unless resuscitation has been attempted).

The police will attend and arrange for your loved one to be taken into the care of the Coroner.

Please see the section below: “In Coroner’s Care.”

Call Country Funerals

Once the death has been formally verified, please contact Country Funerals. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your loved one will then be brought into our care by a member of our team and will remain with us until the funeral takes place.

The following day, after you have had some time, Leah or Frances will call you to arrange a suitable time to talk about the next steps.

Death in Hospital or at a Hospice

If your loved one passes away in a hospital or hospice, the next of kin or closest family member will be informed if you were not present at the time of death.

Hospital bereavement teams will guide you through the next steps and answer any questions you may have.

A hospital or hospice doctor will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, unless the death needs to be referred to the Coroner for further examination.

Your loved one will remain in the hospital or hospice mortuary until the paperwork is completed.

We will ask you to sign a release form so that we can bring them into our care once they are ready.

Once collection has taken place, we will contact you to let you know they are safely in our care.

In Coroner’s Care

You will be contacted by the Coroner’s officer and kept informed throughout the process.

The Coroner will ask who your chosen funeral director is and will contact Country Funerals once everything is ready. You will be notified before we are.

Register the Death

After someone dies, a medical examiner may review the circumstances to confirm the cause of death. They will not have been involved in the person’s care while they were alive. They will call the person who is Next of Kin, and it will often be on an unknown number.

The medical examiner can:

• Explain the cause of death
• Answer any questions you may have about the healthcare provided before the person died

They will also advise when the paperwork is ready for registering the death.

To book an appointment to register a death, please visit: Kent County Council – Register a Death.

Registering the Death – Coroner’s

If a post-mortem examination is required, you do not have to register the death before the funeral. However, many families find that registering beforehand can make the process emotionally easier.

In some cases, an inquest may be held. In these situations, an interim death certificate will be issued. Once the inquest concludes, a final death certificate can be obtained from the registrar.

Arrange the Funeral

We love to hear all about the person and help you to organise the best possible send-off. There is no pressure to make decisions immediately — we are here to guide you through every step and support you in planning the funeral at your own pace.