Understanding The After Death Process In Cardiff
At Ivor Thomas Funerals in Cardiff, we're here to help you navigate the after death process with calm, clear guidance. From registering the death to making funeral arrangements, we support you with compassion and professionalism.
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Reach out to us for expert help through the after death process.
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When someone dies, it may help to gather the following documents when registering the death:
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Medical certificate of death
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The deceased person's birth and marriage certificates
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The deceased person's NHS medical card
In addition to the official documentation, it can help to compile some information about the deceased:
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The deceased person's date and place of death
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Their date and place of birth
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Their full name, including their maiden name
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Their last address
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Their occupation
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Details of any pension or benefits they received at their death.
If the death occurred at home or in a hospital – following recent law changes – the area's medical examiner's office will contact you to confirm that you can register the death. The death must be registered within five days, including weekends and bank holidays, from when the medical examiner contacted you to confirm the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) – unless you are informed that a coroner's investigation is required. To register a death, you should contact the local register office. Depending on whether the death occurred at home, abroad, or in the hospital, there are certain things you may need to do. We'll go through them on this page.
When Someone Dies Abroad
That country's laws should register a death abroad, and a local death certificate will be provided. It also needs to be reported to the British Consulate – not only can they give help and advice, but it also means it can be registered in the UK and the country where it occurred. When the deceased is repatriated, you must notify the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the district where the funeral will take place, as well as the local coroner. The Home Office may also need to be contacted. It may be possible for repatriation costs to be covered by the deceased's travel insurance. We know this can be highly confusing, and there is a lot to do, but we will guide you through every step of the process.
If The Death Occurred In A Nursing Home
If the death was expected, the nursing home would most likely have already asked you which funeral director you would like to use. After the passing, a doctor would have to certify the death, and then we would receive a call from the home to take them into our care. From there, the registration process would take effect as per above, and we would arrange the completion of the required forms. If the death is unexpected, please see the heading below, "When Someone dies at home."
When Someone Dies At Home
This process varies depending on if the death was expected or unexpected. If the death is expected, you would need to call the GP or Out of Hours number – a doctor would then come out and certify the death. Once this has been completed, we can take them into our care. Unless there are unforeseen circumstances, we will be there within an hour and half, but we would ask that you give us a phone call when the death happens so we can organise to be with you as soon as possible. However, if you want your loved one at home with you for longer, we can arrange a time that suits you.
Once we have taken your loved one into our care, the registration process will occur as stated above, and we will organise the necessary paperwork. If the death is not expected, you would need to call 999. Most likely, an ambulance and police would be in attendance; please do not be alarmed by this, as this is normal. When the time comes, you will be asked if there is a funeral director you would like to use – this is when you would ask for Ivor Thomas Funerals, and then the police will contact us directly. The coroner may need to be involved in this instance, which can delay when the funeral can take place, but this isn't always the case. When the coroner has investigated, they send the necessary paperwork directly to us.
If The Death Occurred In A Hospital
The doctors will pass the details onto the medical examiner as per above who will call you in due course. You will also need to collect the deceased's belongings from the hospital. You will then be contacted by the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages to arrange an appointment to register the death. You must bring some form of personal identification to this appointment to verify your identity – this can be a passport, driving licence, or utility bill. It would also be helpful to bring the deceased's birth certificate, marriage certificate or NHS medical card. During the registration process, you will be asked if you have instructed a Funeral Director – make sure you have our details on hand, as they may need our telephone number or email address.
Your loved one can only be moved from the hospital when the 'green certificate' or 'coroner’s order' is received at the funeral home. Only when we have all the documentation can we guarantee the funeral date and time.
If You Need Support With The After Death Process, We're Here To Help.
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