What To Do When Somebody Dies

When a loved one sadly passes away, there are certain procedures and steps to follow.

This guide will help you through the initial process. We offer a 24/7 telephone service in the event of all deaths.

We do recommend contact is made with one of our offices to inform us of the death as soon as possible. We can then start making arrangements in the background while you are waiting to register the death or if HM Coroner is involved.

What to do if someone dies at home

With the death being expected, we recommend you call their GP surgery immediately or the out of hours doctor on 111. Once in attendance, a doctor will verify the death.
- If the death is sudden, we recommend you call 999 immediately, and they will advise on whether they are sending paramedics, police or a doctor to verify and attend the death.
Once the death has been verified in either of the above instances, you may call us on any of the above numbers to attend the death and transfer the deceased person into our care.
The GP, or a Medical Practiconer who has seen the deceased within their lifetime will complete a Medical Cause of Death Certificate (MCCD); this may be issued at the time of verifying the death or in the following days. If the death was sudden, suspicious or there is no clear cause of death, the death may be referred to His Majesty’s Coroner.
Once the MCCD has been completed it will be emailed to the area Medical Examiners office to be scrutinised and approved. The Medical Examiner or their officers will be in touch with you to confirm the circumstances surrounding the death. Once approved the MCCD will be emailed to the Registry office, to enable the death to be registered.
Once the MCCD has been issued to the Registry office you will have five days to register the death.

What to do if someone dies in a nursing or care home

The home staff will call the GP or out of hours doctor to attend and verify the death; once this has happened the staff at the home will call us to transfer the deceased into our care, if you have already nominated a funeral director. If not, they may ask you as the family to contact one direct.
Once the death has been verified in either of the above instances, you may call us on any of the above numbers to attend the death and transfer the deceased person into our care.
The GP, or a Medical Practitioner who has seen the deceased within their lifetime will complete a Medical Cause of Death Certificate (MCCD); this may be issued at the time of verifying the death or in the following days. If the death was sudden, suspicious or there is no clear cause of death, the death may be referred to His Majesty’s Coroner.
Once the MCCD has been completed it will be emailed to the area Medical Examiner’s office to be scrutinised and approved. The Medical Examiner or their officers will be in touch with you to confirm the circumstances surrounding the death. Once approved the MCCD will be emailed to the Registry office, to enable the death to be registered.
Once the MCCD has been issued to the Registry office you will have five days to register the death.

What to do if someone dies in a hospital or hospice

The bereavement team at the hospital or hospice will generally contact the next of kin to inform them of the death if family are not present.
The Bereavement Office at the hospital will be in touch regarding the next steps which will be as follows;
The Doctor from the hospital, or a Medical Practiconer who has seen the deceased within their lifetime will complete a Medical Cause of Death Certificate (MCCD); this may be issued at the time of verifying the death or in the following days. If the death was sudden, suspicious or there is no clear cause of death, the death may be referred to His Majesty’s Coroner.
Once the MCCD has been completed it will be emailed to the hospital Medical Examiner’s office to be scrutinised and approved. The Medical Examiner or their officers will be in touch with you to confirm the circumstances surrounding the death. Once approved the MCCD will be emailed to the Registry office, to enable the death to be registered.
Once the MCCD has been issued to the Registry office you will have five days to register the death.

For further independent advice, please follow this link Funeral Advice.

How to register a death

Who can register a death

You can register the death if you’re:

a relative
someone present at the death
an administrator from the hospital/care nursing home
the person making arrangements with the funeral directors

What documents are needed to register a death

The Medical Certificate Cause of Death (signed by a doctor) will be emailed to the registry office via the Medical Exaimners office, and you will then need to contact the relevant registary office (list at foot of page).

If available (but don’t worry if not), you also need to provide:

☐ Birth certificate	☐ Council Tax bill
☐ Driving licence	☐ Marriage Certificate
☐ NHS medical card	☐ Civil Partnership Certificate
☐ Proof of address (eg utility bill)	☐ Passport

What information do you need to tell the registrar:

the person’s full name at the time of death
any names previously used, eg maiden name
the person’s date and place of birth
their last address
their occupation
the full name, date of birth and occupation of a surviving or late spouse or civil partner
whether they were getting a State Pension or any other benefits

You should also have to hand documents that show your name and address (eg a utility bill) but you can still register a death without them.

Documents you’ll get from registering a death

When you register a death you will receive:

A Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8) – you may need to fill this out and return it if the person was getting a State Pension or benefits (form will come with a pre-paid envelope so you know where to send)
Certified Copy of Entry of Death (The Death Certificate)

The Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the ‘green form’) – gives permission for burial or an application for cremation. (This will either be given to you, or emailed to us)

Local registrars

The Death Must Be Registered In District Which It Took Place In.

Dudley Borough Register Offices
Priory Hall, Priory Park, Dudley DY1 4EU
Council Plus, Castle Street, Dudley DY1 1LQ
Stourbridge Building, Cemetery Road, Lye DY9 8AN
Tel for all: 0300 555 2345

Sandwell Borough Registrars
Highfields, High Street, West Bromwich B70 8RJ
Tel: 0121 368 1188 (can book online)

Birmingham City Council Registrars
Holliday Wharf, Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TJ
Tel: 0121 675 1004 or use this link to pre register the death

Wolverhampton City Council Registrars
The Register Office, Civic Centre, St Peters Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY
Tel: 01902 551234

Walsall City Council Registrars
The Register Office
Civic Centre, Hatherton Road, Walsall WS1 1TN
Tel: 0300 555 2847

Staffordshire Borough Registrars
Cannock Chase Council Offices, Beecroft Road, Cannock WS11 1BG
Boscobel Room, 1 Staffordshire Place, Stafford ST16 2DH
Civic Centre, Gravel Hill, Wombourne WV5 9HA
Tel for all: 0300 111 8001

Worcestershire Borough Registrars
Kidderminster Town Hall, Vicar St Kidderminster DT10 1DA
County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP
29, Easemore Road, Redditch B98 8ER
Tel for all: 01905 768181

Medical Examiner Offices

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: B71 4HJ

Email: swbh.medical-examiners-officer@nhs.net; swbh.me-office@nhs.net Tel: 0121 507 3473 / 3099 / 3228

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust: DY1 2HQ

Email: dgft.medicalexaminer@nhs.net Tel: 01384 456 111 ext 3250, 3251

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust: WV10 0QP

Email: rwh-tr.medicalexaminerservice@nhs.net Tel: 01902 445863; 01902 695942

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust: ST4 6QG

Email: medicalexaminer.uhnm@nhs.net Tel: Royal Stoke office (main site): 01782 675597

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust: B15 1NU

Email: MedicalExaminers@uhb.nhs.uk; MESupportTeam@uhb.nhs.uk Tel: 0121 371 2454

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust: WR5 1DD

Email: wah-tr.medicalexaminers@nhs.net Tel: 01905 733087; 01905 760762