What happens when a death occurs?

When someone dies, it can be difficult to know what to do first. The steps will depend on where the person died and whether their death was expected.

Please do not feel that you need to manage everything immediately or on your own. Abercorn Funeral Services is available to offer guidance and support at any time.

If someone dies at home and their death was expected

If the person was receiving care from their GP, district nurse, hospice or palliative-care team:

• Contact the GP, district nurse or healthcare professional named in their care plan.
• If the death occurs outside normal working hours, use the out-of-hours contact number provided by their care team or telephone NHS 24 on 111 for guidance.
• A qualified healthcare professional will attend or advise you about confirmation of the death.
• Once the appropriate healthcare professional has attended and confirmed that the person may be taken into our care, contact Abercorn Funeral Services.

There is usually no need to call an ambulance when a death at home was expected and an appropriate care plan was in place.

You do not need to rush. If you would like some quiet time with the person who has died before contacting the funeral director, that is entirely understandable.

If someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly at home

If the death is sudden, unexpected or the cause is unknown:

• Telephone the emergency services on 999 and follow the instructions you are given.
• Do not move the person or disturb anything around them unless the emergency services instruct you to do so.
• The police may attend and the death may be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
• Contact close family members or someone who can support you, if you feel able to do so.

Once the relevant authorities have completed their initial procedures and given permission, Abercorn Funeral Services can bring the person who has died into our care.

If someone dies in hospital

When someone dies in hospital, the nursing or medical team will guide the family through the first steps.

Hospital staff will normally:

• Inform the next of kin.
• Explain how the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be completed.
• Tell you how and when personal belongings can be collected.
• Explain whether the death needs to be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
• Advise you about contacting the registration service and your chosen funeral director.

You can contact Abercorn as soon as you feel ready. We will liaise with the hospital and guide you through the funeral arrangements.

If someone dies in a care home

Care-home staff will normally:

• Contact the appropriate doctor or healthcare professional.
• Inform the next of kin.
• Follow the person’s care plan and the home’s procedures.
• Contact the family’s chosen funeral director when permission has been given.

You may contact Abercorn directly or ask the care home to contact us on your behalf.

If someone dies in a hospice

Hospice staff are experienced in caring for people at the end of life and supporting their families.

They will normally:

• Confirm and record the death.
• Guide the family through the immediate next steps.
• Explain how the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be arranged.
• Contact the chosen funeral director when the family is ready and permission has been given.

Abercorn will liaise with the hospice and arrange to bring the person who has died into our care with dignity and respect.

When the Procurator Fiscal becomes involved

Certain deaths must be reported to the Procurator Fiscal. This can include deaths that are sudden, unexpected, accidental, unexplained or connected with particular circumstances.

A referral to the Procurator Fiscal does not necessarily mean that anyone is suspected of wrongdoing. It is a normal legal process in many situations.

The Procurator Fiscal may:

• Ask for further medical information.
• Instruct a post-mortem examination.
• Authorise the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
• Confirm when the person who has died may be released into the funeral director’s care.

This process can sometimes delay registration or funeral arrangements. We will remain in contact with the relevant authorities and keep the family informed wherever possible.

If someone dies elsewhere in the UK or abroad

If someone dies elsewhere in the UK, the death must be registered according to the rules in that part of the country.

If someone dies abroad:

• The death must normally be registered in the country where it occurred.
• Contact the person’s travel-insurance provider, if applicable.
• The British embassy, high commission or consulate may be able to provide guidance.
• Contact Abercorn so that we can help explain the repatriation process and liaise with the relevant professionals.

A person who dies abroad cannot have their death registered again in Scotland. However, arrangements can be made to bring them back to Scotland for burial or cremation.

Registering a death in Scotland

A death in Scotland should normally be registered within eight days.

The doctor or medical team will normally send the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, together with the family’s contact details, directly to the appropriate registration service.

Registering a death in Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh Council currently completes death registrations remotely by telephone. You are not required to visit a registration office.

Once the registration service has received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, a registrar will contact you by telephone or email and explain what happens next.

Please do not arrange a registration appointment until the registrar has contacted you.

The appointment you are given will be for a suitable date and time to receive a telephone call. The entire registration process will then be completed over the phone.

Registering a death elsewhere in Scotland

Registration arrangements can vary between Scottish councils. Some registration services may complete the process remotely, while others may offer or require an appointment.

Contact the relevant local registration service and follow the instructions provided by the registrar.

A death can legally be registered through any registration office in Scotland, but it is important to check that council’s current procedure before making arrangements.

Information to have available for the registrar

The registrar will normally ask for information about the person who has died, including:

• Their full name.
• Their date of birth.
• Their usual home address.
• Their occupation.
• Details of any marriages or civil partnerships.
• Information about their parents.
• The name and address of their usual doctor.

If available, it can be helpful to have their birth certificate, marriage or civil-partnership certificate and NHS medical card.

Do not worry if these documents cannot be found. The registrar will explain what information is required and can still advise you.

What happens after the death is registered?

After the death has been registered:

• The registrar will provide an abbreviated death certificate without charge.
• Full death certificates can be purchased if required for matters such as insurance or private pensions.
• The registrar can send the Certificate of Registration of Death, known as Form 14, directly to Abercorn Funeral Services.
• Form 14 allows the funeral arrangements to proceed.
• The registrar will offer the Tell Us Once service or provide a reference number so it can be completed afterwards.

If you have not selected a funeral director when the death is registered, the registrar can send Form 14 to you instead.

What is Tell Us Once?

Tell Us Once is a government service that allows you to report a death to several public organisations at the same time.

Depending on the person’s circumstances, it can notify organisations including:

• Social Security Scotland.
• The Department for Work and Pensions.
• HM Revenue and Customs.
• The Passport Office.
• The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
• The local council.
• Veterans UK.
• Some public-sector pension schemes.

The registrar will explain how to use this service during the registration process.

The following official websites provide further information:

• Registering a death in Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council’s current telephone-registration procedure and contact details.
• Registering a death in Scotland – National Records of Scotland guidance, including the information required by the registrar.
• When to telephone NHS 24 on 111 – official NHS 24 guidance for urgent help when a GP practice is closed.
• When a death is reported to the Procurator Fiscal – Scottish Government guidance about the process, post-mortem examinations and investigations.
• If someone dies outside Scotland – Scottish Government information about registration, repatriation and bringing someone back to Scotland.
• Tell Us Once – information about notifying government organisations following a death.
• What to do when someone dies – general Scottish Government guidance about the legal and practical steps following a death.

Contacting Abercorn Funeral Services

You can contact us before or after the death has been registered. You do not need to have chosen a funeral date, type of service or any other arrangements before calling.

We will:

• Listen to what has happened.
• Explain the next steps gently and clearly.
• Arrange to bring the person who has died into our care when permission has been given.
• Liaise with hospitals, care homes, hospices and other professionals.
• Help you understand the available funeral choices.
• Arrange a suitable time to meet with you.
• Support you throughout the arrangements and after the funeral.

For guidance or immediate assistance, telephone Abercorn Funeral Services on:

0131 259 2322

We will help you at every stage and care for your loved one with dignity, compassion and respect.

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