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.

First Step – If Death Happens During the Day – Call the person’s doctor

If the death has happened during the day and was expected for example, from a terminal illness you will need to contact their GP or the NHS helpline on 111.

A medical professional need to come to verify your loved one’s death.

The GP will then issue the medical cause of death certificate and send this onto registrars for the registration and your funeral director.

First Step – If Death Happens During the Night – Call the NHS helpline on 111

First Step – If Death Happens and it is Unexpected.

You must call 999 immediately and the operator will provide instructions on what you need to do. If the cause of death is unknown the area around them must be untouched (apart from if there has been an attempt at resuscitation). The Police will then arrange for your loved one to be taken into the care of the Coroner. Please see ‘In Coroners Care’ on our website.

Second Step – Call Country Funerals

Once the death is verified you need to make a call to us here at Country Funerals, we are available 24/7. The person will then be taken into our care here by members of our team and they will remain here with us until their funeral takes place. The following day once you have had some time Leah or Frances will give you a call to make a time to talk about your loved one’s funeral.

Third Step – Register the Death

To register a death the registrars must be in possession of the medical cause of death certificate, which will be sent directly to them. To book an appointment to register you need to visit: https://www.kent.gov.uk/births-ceremonies-and-deaths/deaths/register-a-death. Registration must take place before the funeral can. During the booking process you will be provided with a list of all the information that you need to take along with you.

Fourth Step – Arrange the Funeral

You will come to visit us here, talk to us on the phone or we will come to your home to discuss arrangements for the funeral. We love to hear all about the person and help you to organise the best possible send-off that they deserve. There is no pressure to have made any decisions by this point as we will help to guide you through everything.

Death in Hospital or at a Hospice

If your loved one has passed away within a hospital or hospice their next of kin or closest family members will be informed, if you weren’t with them at the time they passed. Within hospitals there are bereavement teams who will then explain all the next steps to you.

The hospital or hospice doctor will produce the medical cause of death certificate unless they must be referred to the coroner for a further examination.

Your loved one will be taken to the mortuary or the hospital/hospice until the paperwork is ready. We will ask for you to sign a release form to enable us to collect your loved one once they are ready. We will then take them into our care and let you know when they are here with us.

Register the Death

To register a death the registrars must be in possession of the medical cause of death certificate, which will be sent directly to them. To book an appointment to register you need to visit: https://www.kent.gov.uk/births-ceremonies-and-deaths/deaths/register-a-death. Registration must take place before the funeral can. During the booking process you will be provided with a list of all the information that you need to take along with you.

Arrange the Funeral

You will come to visit us here, talk to us on the phone or we will come to your home to discuss arrangements for the funeral. We love to hear all about the person and help you to organise the best possible send-off that they deserve. There is no pressure to have made any decisions by this point as we will help to guide you through everything.

In Coroner’s Care

If the death is sudden, there are suspicious circumstances, or the cause is unknown your loved one will be taken into the care of the coroner. The coroner will then determine if a post-mortem needs to be carried out. You will be contacted by the coroner’s officer and kept up to date throughout.

The coroners will ask who your chosen Funeral Director is and will contact us once they are ready to come into our care. You will be contacted before we are. Your loved one will then be collected by our team and bought here to Country Funerals.

Registering the Death

If the coroners refer the investigation back to the doctors’ surgery, they will produce the medical cause of death certificate and the death must be registered ahead of the funeral taking place. If there is a post-mortem examination, you don’t have to register before the funeral takes place but families find that registering after will be more difficult emotionally. To book an appointment to register, you need to visit: https://www.kent.gov.uk/births-ceremonies-and-deaths/deaths/register-a-death. During the booking process you will be provided with a list of all the information that you need to take along with you.

There may be situations where an inquest is held and an interim death certificate will be produced. Once the inquest is over a final death certificate can be produced by the registrar.

Arrange the Funeral

You will come to visit us here, talk to us on the phone or we will come to your home to discuss arrangements for the funeral. We love to hear all about the person and help you to organise the best possible send-off that they deserve. There is no pressure to have made any decisions by this point as we will help to guide you through everything.