A Bereavement or Patient Affairs Officer will be your point of contact and let you have any valuables and possessions of the deceased and the death certificate. There may be a delay if the Coroner's Office needs to examine the cause of death. The body will be kept in the hospital mortuary until released.

When someone dies at home a doctor should be called and will certify the death or arrange for the police to be called if there is anything unusual about the death, in which case a post mortem may be required. If the doctor can issue a death certificate it may be necessary to collect it from the surgery.

Usually a body can be kept at home for a few days and the doctor or nurse can advise how best to care for it

Often, when a resident dies, the staff will arrange for a funeral director to remove the deceased over night and will call a doctor and funeral director of their choosing, unless prior instructions have been given. Should you wish to use a different funeral director, transferring the deceased may incur additional costs.

Before making any funeral arrangements it is important to check if the deceased left any wishes or instructions in a will or letter. Respecting the deceased's wishes can help overcome any disagreements among family members over the form of funeral to take place.

A funeral cannot take place until this is done, within 5 days of the death, at the local office of the Registrar of Deaths, usually by appointment. The Registrar will need:-

• the date and place of death
• the deceased's usual address
• birth and marriage certificates
• the full names of the deceased and maiden name as appropriate
• the deceased's date and place of birth
• the deceased's occupation and that of the spouse or civil partner
• the full name and date of birth of the surviving widow or civil partner
• the death certificate
• the deceased's medical card if available

The Registrar will issue a death certificate (free but copies will be charged for) and a green certificate of registration, which the funeral director or person responsible for the body, will need before burial or cremation can take place. The place of burial will require this or the order for burial, issued by the coroner's office, before interment can take place.

For many this is best left to funeral directors but it is possible to organise a funeral without. Giving consideration to practical issues such as caring for the deceased, lifting, carrying and transport arrangements. Good advice is available from The Natural Death Centre (link) and staff at Olney Green Burial.

If cremation was the wish of the deceased additional forms B and C have to be completed by two doctors for a fee of (currently) £41.00 each. The crematorium will also require form A which is usually completed by a funeral director. The “green” form will also be required by the crematorium.

The cemetery or green burial ground will require the green certificate of registration or coroner's order for burial.