What To Do Next

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When an expected death occurs at home you should call their Doctor (GP), (after hours contact NHS 24 on 111) to attend the home to confirm the passing, and arrange for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11) to be issued. 

Should the death at home be sudden or unexpected please go to the appropriate section below.

Please contact us after you have contacted the doctor, so we can arrange to bring your loved one into our care, once the doctor has attended.

When a death occurs in Hospital or Hospice, the doctor looking after your loved one will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11). Nurses and /or bereavement officer can offer you support and practical advice about what to do next.

Once you have called us, we will liaise with the Hospital or Hospice to take your loved one into our care.

When someone dies in a Nursing Home, the staff will contact their Doctor (GP), who will attend the nursing home to confirm their passing and arrange for the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11) to be issued. 

You can call us or ask the staff  to contact us, so that we can arrange to bring your loved one into our care once the doctor has attended. 

When someone has died unexpectedly or their Doctor (GP) is not certain of the cause of death, the death will be referred to the local Procurator Fiscal for investigation. The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form 11) will be issued by the Pathologist at the Mortuary.

Should you find someone who has died unexpectedly, please contact 999 and ask for the Police to attend the sudden /unexpected death, also ask for Paramedics to attend to certify passing.

Please contact us as soon as possible, so we can ensure smooth handling of arrangements.

Returning to the Islands:

When someone dies we will liaise with you and the Island funeral director to convey your loved one home.

Returning Overseas:

When someone dies we will liaise with you, an overseas funeral director and the country's Consulate or Embassy to organise the necessary documentation and transport your loved one to or from the UK.

Once you receive the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, you will need to contact the Registrar's to formally register the death. 

Please click here to find more details about the Registration of Death process and the documents that you are required to bring along to the registration.