Wondering what happens when someone dies? Allow us to guide you
Knapman Family Independent Funeral Directors in Plymouth offers compassionate support and expert advice during the most challenging times, ensuring every detail is handled with care.
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​When someone dies
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.
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These are the following steps you should take when someone dies. Please feel free to contact us on 10752 603552 for further information and speak to a member of the team who will only be too delighted to talk you through the process.
When someone dies at home
If the death is expected, the first contact will be with the deceased’s Doctor or surgery (Devon Doctor’s when out of hours), who will attend and verify the death. They will then give their consent for you to contact us (07152 603552). We can then make arrangements to bring your loved one into our care.
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Our team is available to support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – no matter time. We will then contact you to discuss funeral arrangements at a place and time that is comfortable and convenient for you.
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The last Doctor who attended the deceased within 28 days will then determine the cause of death and issue a Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (MCCD) to the Medical Examiner’s office. The next of kin/representative will be then contacted by the Medical Examiner who will discuss the MCCD. The Medical Examiner’s office will then send the following to the Registrar:
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The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
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The next of kin / representative details
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The Registrar will then phone the next of kin/representative to book an appointment to register the death. Contact us today to learn more about the tribute services.
If the death is unexpected, sudden or suspicious
You will need to dial 999 and ask the operator for an ambulance and the 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 deceased had not been seen by a doctor in the previous 28 days.
• The death was unexplained or sudden.
• The death occurred during or soon after an operation.
• The death was in suspicious circumstances or in an incident.
A coroner can hold an inquest if the post-mortem is inconclusive and the death is still unknown or if the person died in police custodyor prison, the death was unnatural, or it was a violent death.
The death can be registered once the inquest has been concluded and the coroner has made a decision and issued the correct documentation. An Interim Death Certificate can also be issued prior to the conclusion of an inquest.
When someone dies in a nursing home or care home
The staff of the nursing/care home will contact the doctor’s surgery (Devon Doctors if out of hours) to verify the death. They can, on your behalf, contact us to make the necessary arrangements to bring your loved one into our care once or contact 999 / the coroner if the death was unexpected.
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You can make the nursing/care home aware in advance of your appointed Funeral Director. They can then liaise directly regarding arrangements when the time comes. We will then contact you to let you know that your loved one is in our care.
If the death is in hospital
The nursing staff or doctor on the ward will notify the next of kin or representative of the death and will arrange for the collection of personal effects. Nursing staff will make arrangements for the deceased to be taken to the hospital mortuary and for us to bring your loved one into our care (If the coroner is not involved).
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The doctor that last attended to the deceased will complete the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death and forward the document to the Medical Examiner’s office. The Medical Examiner will then contact the next of kin/representative to discuss the MCCD.
The Medical Examiner’s office will then send the following to the Registrar:
• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• The next of kin / representative details
The Registrar will then phone the next of kin/representative to book an appointment to register the death.
Denise and I would like to thank you and the team for your professional and personal service. From the first initial telephone call when my sister passed on the 5 October through to the final farewell at Ford Park Chapel was faultless. Cassie, you guided us through a difficult process and talked through the various options before we decided on a service at Ford Park Chapel, which was a perfect. The order of service that Marc put together was amazing, and I particularly liked the personal contact with the florist. We had the opportunity to meet the wonderful Zoe, and finally the Celebrant Sharon who put together a perfect service to celebrate my sister's life.
We were very grateful