Recently lost someone? Find out what to do when someone dies

Direct cremations start £1195, which is fully inclusive of all fees.

Call us and we will try and help you by contacting the arranging client on your behalf. You can also ring the crematorium directly.

DWP will pay the cremation fee and £1000, which is more than enough to cover a direct cremation.

Whether a death was expected or not, when someone dies, many people feel worried and unsure about what to do next. In what is a difficult time, those left behind have to come to terms with the loss of a family member or friend as well as contend with the immediate practicalities and contacting a Funeral Director.

These are the following steps you should take when someone dies. Please feel free to contact us on 01752 603552 for further information and speak to a member of the team who will only be too happy to talk you through the process. When someone dies at home

First contact will be with the deceased’s Doctor or surgery (Devon Doctors when out of hours) who will determine the cause of death and issue a Medical Certificate accordingly and advise you on what to do next. (This may be the following day when the GP surgery is open). The certificate can then be taken to register the death upon appointment at the registry office. If the death is sudden or un-expected, then dial 999.

Once the Doctor has been and verified the death, they will give their consent for you to contact us (01752 603552). We can then make arrangements to bring your loved one into our care.

One of our team is available to support and guide you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – no matter the time.

We will then contact you to discuss the funeral arrangements at a place and time that is comfortable and convenient for you, e.g., your home. If the death is un-expected, sudden or suspicious You will need to dial 999 and ask the operator for the Ambulance and Police. The operator will help and support you through the steps you may need to take such as resuscitation or preserving the scene.

It is standard practice for the death to be referred to the coroner. The Coroner will then investigate the circumstances and cause of death before releasing the deceased into our care. This may require a post mortem investigation. A Coroner is involved when:

• The individual had not been seen by a Doctor in the previous 14 days

• The death was unexplained or sudden

• Death occurred during an operation

• An individual has died in suspicious circumstances or in an accident

An coroner can hold an inquest if the post mortem is inconclusive and death is still unknown or if the person died in police or prison custody, or if it was an unnatural or violent death. Once the inquest has been concluded, the Coroner will issue the correct documentation

The death can be registered once the coroner has made a decision and issued you with the correct documentation, or possibly issue an Interim Death Certificate prior to the conclusion of an inquest.

We can liaise with the Coroner on your behalf and keep you informed of proceedings. When someone dies in a care or nursing home The staff of the care / nursing home will contact the appropriate professional (Family Doctor or out of hours) to verify the death. They can then on your behalf, contact us to make the necessary arrangements to bring your loved one into our care, or contact the coroner if the death was unexpected.

You can make the care home aware in advance that you would like to use us as the Funeral Directors. The nursing / care home can then liaise with us directly regarding arrangements when the time comes. We will then contact you when your loved one is in our care. If the death is in a hospital

• The nursing staff on the ward / unit will notify the next of kin.

• You will be put in contact with the hospitals bereavement office, who will talk you through what happens next and arrange a time to collect personal effects together with a Medical Certificate of Death if a coroner is not involved.

• Nursing staff will make the necessary arrangements for the deceased to be taken to the hospital mortuary until a funeral director has been identified by the family / next of kin.

• Call 01752 603552 and speak to one of our friendly team who will talk you through the next part of the process.

Her Majesty’s Coroners are Judicial Officers (usually Solicitors or Doctors) who are independent of Local or Central Government. They will establish the cause of death when a Doctor is unable to issue a death certificate which may be due to either of the following:

• The Doctor had not seen the person within 14 days

• Death occurred during an operation

• Death was sudden and unexplained

• An accident or under suspicious circumstances

• It is usually necessary for the Coroner to order a Post Mortem examination to establish accurately the cause of death
  

If the Coroner is satisfied that death was due to natural causes, the correct documentation will be issued to register the death. This will normally be posted direct to the appropriate Registrar. If however, the Coroner does not feel a Post Mortem examination is necessary, a Certificate will be issued so that registration can take place in the normal way.

Will there be an Inquest?

If the Coroner decides to hold an Inquest… A Coroner must hold an inquest if the cause of death is still unknown or if the person:

• Possibly died a violent or unnatural death

• Died in prison or police custody
  

You will not be able to register the death until the Inquest has been concluded. The Coroner will send a form to the Registrars or an Interim Death Certificate my be issued prior to the conclusion of the inquest.

The death must be notified within 5 days and registered within 14 days. You can register the death if you are:

• An Administrator from the Hospital

• The person making arrangements with the Funeral Directors

• A close relative

• An individual who was present at the death
  

To Register a death, you will need to take the following to the Registry Office:

• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (signed by a Doctor) If available:

• The Birth Certificate, Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate

You will also need to tell the Registrar:

• The deceased’s full name at the time of death

• Any names previously used, (eg. maiden name, deed poll, etc)

• The person’s date and place of birth

• Their last address

• Their occupation

• The full name, date of birth and occupation of their Spouse or Civil Partner (late or surviving)

• If they were in receipt of a State Pension or any other benefits
  

The Registrar will be able to guide you further when calling to book an appointment.