What to do When Someone Passes

What to Do When Someone Passes Away: A Step-by-Step Guide

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and knowing the steps to take can help ease the stress of arranging a funeral. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step overview of what to do when someone passes away in Nottinghamshire, ensuring all legal, practical, and emotional matters are handled with care.

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1. Notify the Relevant Authorities

If the Death Occurs at Home

Contact the deceased’s GP if the death was expected.
Outside GP hours, call NHS 111 for guidance.
A medical professional will confirm the death and provide instructions.

If the Death Occurs in a Hospital or Care Home

Staff will manage initial procedures and advise on next steps.
They will arrange for a doctor to complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

If the Death Was Sudden or Unexpected

Call 999 immediately.
Police and paramedics will attend, and the case may be referred to the coroner.

2. Contact a Funeral Director

Once the death is confirmed, contact a local funeral director to begin arrangements.

At Nottinghamshire Direct Cremations, we provide compassionate support and guidance, including:

Arranging the dignified transfer of your loved one into our care
Handling all legal paperwork and documentation
Supporting planning for a direct cremation and optional chapel arrangements

Mourning family together at the cemetery

3. Understanding the Death Certification Process

Every death must now be reviewed by a Medical Examiner before the death certificate is issued.

Process Overview:

Medical Examiner Review

Examines medical records and consults with the attending doctor

Doctor or Coroner Decision

Determines if the attending doctor can issue the death certificate or if the coroner must be involved

Issuance of Death Certificate

Certificate is issued if no further investigation is required

4. Registering the Death

Deaths must be registered within five days at the register office in the district where the death occurred.

Who Can Register:

A relative of the deceased
Someone present at the time of death
The person responsible for funeral arrangements (not the funeral director)

Documents Needed:

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
Full name, date of birth, and last address of the deceased
Occupation and marital status
Spouse or civil partner details, if applicable
State pension or benefits information

Local Register Offices in Nottinghamshire:

Nottingham Register Office

Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG
0115 876 4550
nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Mansfield Register Office

Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, NG18 1QB
01623 463463
mansfield.gov.uk

Nottinghamshire County Council

Memorial Avenue, Worksop, Notts, S80 2BP
0300 500 80 80
https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk

5. Arranging the Funeral

Once the death is registered, funeral arrangements can begin.

At Nottinghamshire Direct Cremations, we provide:

Local care – Your loved one remains in Nottinghamshire, never transported long distances
Compassionate support – Direct access to our experienced team
Transparent pricing – All-inclusive direct cremation (£1,775) and optional chapel arrangements (£150)

Call us today to discuss arrangements: 0115 941 4101

Following the funeral, you may need to:

Notify banks, insurance companies, pension providers, utilities, and other institutions
Wills & probate – Executors manage the estate; intestacy rules apply if no will exists
Use Tell Us Once – Government service notifying HMRC, DVLA, DWP, and other agencies in one step (gov.uk)

6. Handling Legal and Financial Matters

Businessman with calculator counting making notes at office hand is writes in a notebook

7. Coroner Involvement

A coroner may investigate a death if:

Cause of death is unknown
Death occurred suddenly or during medical treatment
Death was not attended by a doctor in the last 14 days

Nottingham Coroner’s Office

Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG
0115 876 4550
coroners@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Mansfield Coroner’s Office

Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, NG18 1QB
01623 463463

8. Bereavement Support & Additional Contacts

Grief can feel overwhelming. Support is available locally:

Cruse Bereavement Support – 0808 808 1677 | cruse.org.uk
Samaritans – 116 123 | samaritans.org
Mind Mental Health Support – 0300 123 3393 | mind.org.uk

City Hospital

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH | 0115 924 9924
King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 4JL | 01623 672222

Final Thoughts

Handling the death of a loved one is never easy, but knowing what to do can ease the burden. At Nottinghamshire Direct Cremations, we provide support, guidance, and dignified care at every stage.

We are here for you during this difficult time, providing reassurance, local expertise, and compassionate care across Nottinghamshire.

What to do When Someone Passes