what to do
when someone dies
Losing a loved one is never easy and the process can be difficult to navigate. At Vail Funeral Services, we understand that this time is an emotional and sensitive one, and we are here to help guide you through it. At such a difficult time, it can be confusing knowing what to do next. The information below has been designed to provide guidance and support with the steps you should take when someone has died.
if a death occurs at a private address
If someone dies at home and the death was expected, the first step is to contact the deceased's doctor. The doctor will come to the house to confirm the death and issue a death certificate. If the person’s doctor isn’t available, for example if someone dies at night, an on-call doctor or senior nurse can do this. Once the passing has been verified, and you are ready for us to attend, please call us on either 01353 363614 or 07709839021. Should you wish to spend some more time with your loved one, you can inform us and we will arrange a convenient time to attend. If someone has died unexpectedly at home, the emergency services must be involved. They will contact the coroner to investigate the cause of death. The coroner will arrange for a local funeral director to collect the person who has died to take them to the hospital mortuary. You don’t need to use this funeral director, even if the person has been taken to their funeral home after the investigation is finished. The coroner will issue a medical certificate of cause of death when they've finished their investigation. You can start arranging the funeral in the meantime.
if a death occurs in a hospice / nursing home
When a loved one passes away in a hospice or nursing home, the person’s doctor will be contacted to verify the death. The doctor will then issue a medical certificate of cause of death which you’ll need to register the death. If you have previously informed the nursing home that we are your chosen funeral directors, they will contact us. If not, they will ask you to confirm your chosen directors. We, or your chosen funeral directors, will work with the hospice or nursing home staff to ensure your loved one is transported safely and respectfully to the funeral home.
if a death occurs in a hospital
When someone dies in a hospital and the death was expected, the doctor will issue the medical certificate of cause of death. The hospital staff will contact you to provide support and discuss the next steps. Once we are appointed as your chosen funeral directors, we will liaise with the hospital bereavement team and arrange to transfer your loved one into our care. Hospitals have set times that we can do this, so this may not be on the same day. However, you can still proceed with making funeral arrangements.
who can register a death?
Ideally, a member of the family will register the death. If this is not possible, then the death can be registered by either: a person who was present at the death
 or: the person responsible for arranging and paying for the funeral
how do I register a death?
Unless the Coroner is involved, you must register the death within five days. You will need to telephone the registration service to book an appointment to register the death. The local district Registration office details are below: Cambridgeshire Registration Service: 0345 045 1363 Peterborough Registration Service: 01733 864646 Fenland & Huntingdon Registration Service: 0345 045 1363 You must take with you the medical certificate of cause of death. If possible, you should also take the following documents (they are not absolutely essential but provide much of the additional information you need for the registration, but do not delay registering just because you cannot find this paperwork): - NHS card - Birth certificate - Driving licence - Council tax bill - Marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable) - If possible please take the National Insurance number of the deceased and the number of a surviving spouse or civil partner. - Passport - Proof of address (e.g. utility bill) When you see the registrar, they will require the following information about the deceased: - Date and place of the death - The address of the person - Their full names (including the maiden name of a married woman). Any former married names or other names by which the deceased was known can also be recorded. - Where and when they were born (the town or county is sufficient if the exact address is not known). Only the country of origin is required for people born outside the United Kingdom. The country is recorded according to its current name if this is different from how it was known at the date of birth. - Their occupation - Details of their wife or husband or civil partner - Whether they had any government pension or other benefits While it is not essential, you should also take supporting documents that show your name and address (e.g. a utility bill) but you can still register a death without them. Once completed the Registrar will ask you how many copies of the Certified Copies of an Entry (Death Certificates) you will require. You will also receive a Web Link and Code for the Tell Us Once service which helps you notify government departments and local council services of the death. The Registrar’s Certificate for Burial or Cremation (Green Certificate) will be sent directly to us by the registrar. Please do allow up to 48 hours for us to receive this. In urgent cases or should you request the Registrar will give this certificate to you, to hand on to us direct. Once you have booked your appointment or completed the registration, you will then need to book an appointment with us to start making the funeral arrangements, if you have not done so already.
