1 Step 1 of 18

Get a medical certificate

As soon as possible

When someone dies, a doctor needs to issue a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). If the death was expected, the GP or hospital doctor who was treating them will usually do this. If the death was sudden or unexplained, the coroner may need to be involved.

The medical certificate is the first document you will need. It confirms the cause of death and is required to register the death.

If the person died in hospital, the hospital will usually arrange this. If they died at home or in a care home, contact their GP surgery.

If the coroner is involved, they will issue the certificate once any investigation is complete. This can take longer, but the coroner's office will keep you informed.

What you will need

Contact details for the person's GP or hospital
The person's full name and date of birth

Same day if the death was expected

Next step

2. Contact a funeral director

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Contacting the funeral director is step one. But there are 4 other things you'll need to deal with — and most people don't know about them until it's too late.

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