First steps
Making the first call after someone has died is often the hardest thing to do. You can call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so call us as soon as you feel you can. We will guide you through all that needs to be done, as what happens differs slightly, depending on where and how a death occurs.
The medical certificate of cause of death is completed by the verifying medical professional for the local medical examiner to review. Once the medical examiner is satisfied with the cause of death, it will be electronically sent to the registrars. The medical examiner’s office will contact you and let you know when they have completed this, so you can then make an appointment at the registry office.
You can register the death at the Registrar’s Office in the area where the person died. You should make an appointment before you go.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Please refer to our Helpful Information booklet below for more information.
If the death was expected
A medical professional must come to verify the death before we can bring the person who has died into our care. Call their doctor or senior nurse, who will come in person to do this or call NHS 111 and ask for an on-call doctor or senior nurse who can help you. You don’t have to do this right away if you would like some time with them at home.
We recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once you have called us to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, and you have spent your time with them at home and when you are ready as a family, we will attend and bring the person who has died into our care
The medical examiner will issue a ‘medical certificate of cause of death’, which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once they have sent it.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
If the death was not expected
If someone dies unexpectedly, you must call 999 for emergency services. They will contact the coroner to investigate the cause of death.
It is common for either the ambulance service or the police, or on occasions both services, to attend. They will explain the next steps.
The coroner will arrange for their contracted funeral director, which, for deaths in Bedfordshire, is ourselves, to attend and collect the person who has died, and transfer them to the hospital mortuary or, on occasions, back into our care, but under the coroner’s care and instruction until initial enquiries can be made.
The coroner will issue a medical certificate of cause of death when they’ve finished their investigation, but you can still start arranging the funeral in the meantime. Sometimes, an ‘interim’ certificate is issued whilst further investigations are taking place, but the coroner’s office will be in close contact with you throughout this time to support and advise further.
You can start making funeral arrangements before investigations have been completed, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
A medical professional must come to verify the death before we can bring the person who has died into our care. Call their doctor or senior nurse, who will come in person to do this or call NHS 111 and ask for an on-call doctor or senior nurse who can help you. You don’t have to do this right away if you would like some time with them at home.
We recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once you have called us to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, and you have spent your time with them at home and when you are ready as a family, we will attend and bring the person who has died into our care
The medical examiner will issue a ‘medical certificate of cause of death’, which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once they have sent it.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
If the death was not expected
If someone dies unexpectedly, you must call 999 for emergency services. They will contact the coroner to investigate the cause of death.
It is common for either the ambulance service or the police, or on occasions both services, to attend. They will explain the next steps.
The coroner will arrange for their contracted funeral director, which, for deaths in Bedfordshire, is ourselves, to attend and collect the person who has died, and transfer them to the hospital mortuary or, on occasions, back into our care, but under the coroner’s care and instruction until initial enquiries can be made.
The coroner will issue a medical certificate of cause of death when they’ve finished their investigation, but you can still start arranging the funeral in the meantime. Sometimes, an ‘interim’ certificate is issued whilst further investigations are taking place, but the coroner’s office will be in close contact with you throughout this time to support and advise further.
You can start making funeral arrangements before investigations have been completed, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
If the death was expected
A medical professional must come to verify the death before we can bring the person who has died into our care. The care staff will call their doctor or senior nurse, who will come in person to do this.
We recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once you or the care staff have called us to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, you can if you wish spent some time with them at their current locations and when you are ready as a family, we will attend and bring the person who has died into our care You don’t have to do this right away.
The medical examiner will issue a ‘medical certificate of cause of death’, which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once they have sent it.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you
A medical professional must come to verify the death before we can bring the person who has died into our care. The care staff will call their doctor or senior nurse, who will come in person to do this.
We recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once you or the care staff have called us to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, you can if you wish spent some time with them at their current locations and when you are ready as a family, we will attend and bring the person who has died into our care You don’t have to do this right away.
The medical examiner will issue a ‘medical certificate of cause of death’, which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once they have sent it.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you
If the death was expected
The hospital bereavement team will make contact with you to support you and explain the next steps. The medical examiner will issue a ‘medical certificate of cause of death’, which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once it has been sent, allowing you to arrange an appointment at the registry office. You will then have 5 days to register the death.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once we have met with you and you have signed to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, we will arrange to bring the person who has died into our care directly from the hospital once they have given clearance.
If the death was not expected
The hospital might need to do a post-mortem examination to find out the cause of death. If they’re unable to find out the cause, the doctor will contact the coroner, who will investigate further.
The coroner will issue a medical certificate of cause of death when they’ve finished their investigation. Sometimes, an ‘interim’ certificate is issued whilst further investigations are taking place.
You can start making funeral arrangements before investigations have been completed, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once we have met with you and you have signed to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, we will arrange to bring the person who has died into our care directly from the hospital once they or the coroner has given clearance.
The hospital bereavement team will make contact with you to support you and explain the next steps. The medical examiner will issue a ‘medical certificate of cause of death’, which is needed before you can register the death. They will give the certificate directly to the registrars and let you know once it has been sent, allowing you to arrange an appointment at the registry office. You will then have 5 days to register the death.
You can start making funeral arrangements before you’ve registered the death, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once we have met with you and you have signed to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, we will arrange to bring the person who has died into our care directly from the hospital once they have given clearance.
If the death was not expected
The hospital might need to do a post-mortem examination to find out the cause of death. If they’re unable to find out the cause, the doctor will contact the coroner, who will investigate further.
The coroner will issue a medical certificate of cause of death when they’ve finished their investigation. Sometimes, an ‘interim’ certificate is issued whilst further investigations are taking place.
You can start making funeral arrangements before investigations have been completed, and we recommend making us aware at the earliest opportunity once a death has occurred, so we can start supporting you.
Once we have met with you and you have signed to formally appoint us as your chosen funeral directors, we will arrange to bring the person who has died into our care directly from the hospital once they or the coroner has given clearance.
Neville Funerals has many years of experience in arranging funerals where people have died elsewhere in the United Kingdom or abroad. Our staff will advise and guide you every step of the way. Our repatriation service provides assistance of the highest standard to the bereaved.
Bringing someone back to the United Kingdom
When someone dies abroad it is often the family’s wish to have that person brought back to the UK. Neville Funerals has wide experience of receiving coffins from all over the world and will be able to help and guide you every step of the way.
Repatriation to other countries
Neville Funerals has a wealth of experience in repatriating people to countries outside the UK. We also have strong links with funeral directors in Ireland and are proud to be members of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors. Whatever the circumstances we will make the process as smooth and as easy as possible.
Call us at any time, day or night +44 (0)1582 490005
As well as dealing directly with families, we also work with other funeral directors and insurance companies worldwide.
Bringing someone back to the United Kingdom
When someone dies abroad it is often the family’s wish to have that person brought back to the UK. Neville Funerals has wide experience of receiving coffins from all over the world and will be able to help and guide you every step of the way.
Repatriation to other countries
Neville Funerals has a wealth of experience in repatriating people to countries outside the UK. We also have strong links with funeral directors in Ireland and are proud to be members of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors. Whatever the circumstances we will make the process as smooth and as easy as possible.
Call us at any time, day or night +44 (0)1582 490005
As well as dealing directly with families, we also work with other funeral directors and insurance companies worldwide.
When someone dies unexpectedly it is perfectly normal for the police to attend; they are there on behalf of the coroner to collect information. The deceased person will be moved to a local hospital, into the care of the coroner, so that further investigation may take place.
Contact us as soon as you feel able, as we will liaise with the coroner’s office on your behalf and guide you through the process, keeping you fully informed and supported, ensuring everything happens as you and your loved one would wish.
Contact us as soon as you feel able, as we will liaise with the coroner’s office on your behalf and guide you through the process, keeping you fully informed and supported, ensuring everything happens as you and your loved one would wish.