When someone you love dies at home, the world can feel as though it has stopped. You may feel frozen, unsure who to call or what to do first. Whatever the circumstances — whether the death was expected after a long illness, or sudden and completely unexpected — please know that there is a clear path through this, and you do not have to navigate it alone.
This guide will walk you through exactly what to do, step by step, in plain and honest language. There is no rush to do everything at once. Take a breath. The practical steps can wait a few moments while you simply be with the person you have lost.
First Things First: You Do Not Have to Do Anything Immediately
One of the most important things to know is this: there is no legal requirement to call anyone immediately. Unless you are worried that the person may still be alive and needs urgent medical help, you are allowed to sit with them, hold their hand, say goodbye, and call other family members before you do anything else.
When you are ready, the steps you need to take will depend on whether the death was expected or unexpected.
If the Death Was Expected
An expected death is one where the person had a terminal illness or serious condition, was under the care of a GP or specialist, and where death was anticipated. This includes people who were receiving palliative or hospice care at home.
Step 1: Call the GP or Out-of-Hours Doctor
Your first call should be to the person's GP surgery. If it is outside of surgery hours, call the NHS 111 service or the out-of-hours GP service in your area. A doctor will need to attend and confirm that the person has died — this is called verification of death.
If a community nurse or palliative care nurse is already involved in the person's care, they may be able to attend and verify the death in the first instance. It is worth checking whether this is possible, as it can feel more familiar and comforting than having a GP you do not know attend.
Step 2: The Doctor Will Issue a Medical Certificate
Once the GP (or an attending doctor) has confirmed the death, they will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This is the document you will need to register the death. In most expected cases, your GP will issue this without difficulty, as they will have been treating the person and will know the cause of death.
Since the introduction of the Medical Examiner system — now fully rolled out across England and Wales — all deaths are reviewed by an independent Medical Examiner before the MCCD is issued. This is a routine process designed to ensure accuracy and give families an opportunity to raise any concerns. It is not something to worry about; it is simply good practice.
Step 3: Contact a Funeral Director When You Are Ready
There is no fixed timescale for when the funeral director needs to be called. Many families choose to call on the same day; others wait until the following morning. When you are ready, a funeral director will come to the home, treat your loved one with the utmost care and dignity, and take them into their care. We say more about what this process involves below.
If the Death Was Unexpected
An unexpected death — including sudden death, or a death where no doctor had recently seen the person — requires a different set of steps. This can feel frightening, but understanding what will happen in advance can help.
Step 1: Call 999
If you are not certain that the person has died, or if the death appears to have happened very suddenly, call 999 immediately. Paramedics will attend and confirm whether the person has died. If there is any possibility that the person could be resuscitated, the ambulance crew will attempt to do so.
If you are certain the person has died — for example, you found them having clearly been deceased for some hours — you can call 999 to report the death, or call 111 for guidance on who to contact.
Step 2: The Police May Attend — This Is Normal
If the death was sudden or the cause is not immediately clear, the police will likely attend. Please do not be alarmed by this. It does not mean anyone is suspected of wrongdoing. It is standard procedure in the UK for police to attend unexpected deaths to ensure safeguarding requirements are met and to help establish the circumstances of the death. Officers will be respectful and sensitive.
Police may ask you some questions about the person's health, any medications they were taking, and the events leading up to the death. Answer as honestly and fully as you can — this simply helps them complete their report.
Step 3: The Coroner May Become Involved
In cases of unexpected, sudden, or unexplained death, the case will likely be referred to His Majesty's Coroner. The Coroner's role is to investigate the cause of death when it cannot be immediately established. This may involve a post-mortem examination (also called an autopsy).
A post-mortem does not require the family's consent, and while the idea can feel distressing, it is an important process. In many cases, the Coroner is able to establish the cause of death without a full inquest, and the body will be released to the family — usually within a few days, though timescales vary.
If an inquest is required — for example, if the death was accidental, or the circumstances remain unclear — this is a formal legal process that the Coroner manages. A funeral can usually still go ahead before the inquest concludes, once the Coroner has issued an interim certificate.
Your funeral director can liaise with the Coroner's office on your behalf, which can take a significant administrative burden off your shoulders during a very difficult time.
What Happens When the Funeral Director Collects Your Loved One
When you call a funeral director, they will ask you a few gentle questions: where the person is, whether a doctor has verified the death, and whether there are any practical considerations about access to the property. They will arrange a time to come — and in the case of an unexpected death, they will wait until the relevant authorities have confirmed that the person can be taken into their care.
When the funeral director's team arrives, they will bring a stretcher and a transfer sheet or covering. Their manner will be quiet, unhurried, and respectful. You do not need to leave the room; many families choose to remain present. Equally, if you would prefer to be in another part of the house, that is completely understandable.
Your loved one will be taken to the funeral home's chapel of rest, where they will be kept in a cool, dignified environment. From this point, the funeral director will guide you through all the decisions ahead: the type of funeral, the burial or cremation, viewings, and the many other choices you will make in the coming days.
Can You Keep Someone at Home Before the Funeral?
Yes — and for many families, this is a deeply meaningful choice. There is no legal requirement in England, Wales, or Scotland for a person to be taken to a funeral home. Some families choose to keep their loved one at home, in their own bedroom, until the day of the funeral. This is sometimes called a home vigil or home laying out.
If this is something you would like to consider, speak to your funeral director about it. They will be able to advise on practical matters — including keeping the room cool (ideally below 18°C), which helps preserve the body naturally over a period of several days. Some families use a cooling unit, which the funeral director can supply.
Many people find that having their loved one at home gives them more time to say goodbye, allows family members who live far away to visit, and feels more in keeping with their traditions, culture, or faith. It is a genuinely viable option, and a good funeral director will support you in making this choice if it feels right.
Registering the Death
In England and Wales, a death must be registered within five days (in Scotland, within eight days). You will need to do this at the local Register Office — most require an appointment. The person who registers the death is known as the informant, and is usually a close relative.
You will need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) issued by the doctor. The registrar will then issue a Death Certificate (you can request multiple copies — it is worth getting at least four or five, as you will need them for banks, pension providers, the estate, and other administrative tasks) and, if the funeral can go ahead, a green certificate (formally a Certificate for Burial or Cremation) which is passed to the funeral director.
If the death has been referred to the Coroner, the registrar process works slightly differently and your funeral director will explain what applies in your specific situation.
A Practical Checklist for a Home Death
- Expected death: Call the GP or out-of-hours service to verify the death
- Unexpected death: Call 999; police may attend — this is standard procedure
- Let close family members know when you feel ready
- Contact a funeral director when you are ready for them to take your loved one into their care
- Obtain the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the GP (or await Coroner's process)
- Register the death at the local Register Office within five days (England and Wales) or eight days (Scotland)
- Obtain multiple copies of the Death Certificate
- Begin making funeral arrangements with your chosen funeral director
How an NAFD Funeral Director Can Help
Choosing a funeral director is one of the most important decisions you will make in the days ahead. NAFD-accredited funeral directors are held to a strict, independently monitored Code of Practice — which means you can trust that the care your loved one receives, and the guidance you are given, meets the highest professional standards.
Every NAFD member funeral home is regularly inspected, and if you ever have a concern, there is an independent Funeral Arbitration Scheme to support you. This gives you real, meaningful protection at one of the most vulnerable times of your life.
An NAFD funeral director will handle communication with the GP, the Medical Examiner, and — if needed — the Coroner's office on your behalf. They will explain every step, give you a clear written estimate of costs, and never pressurise you into decisions you are not ready to make. Find an NAFD-accredited funeral director near you to speak to someone today.
If cost is a concern, our funeral cost calculator can give you a realistic idea of what different types of funerals cost in your area.