When someone dies
What to do when someone dies.
There is no right way to feel, and very little that has to be done straight away. This guide takes you through the first hours and days, one step at a time.
Read as much or as little as you need. You can come back to it whenever you like.
The first few hours
Three things, in your own time.
Take a moment.
If the death was expected, nothing needs to happen quickly. You can sit with them, call family, and say goodbye in the way that feels right. Many families find these first hours precious.
The death needs to be confirmed.
At home, and expected: call the GP surgery, or NHS 111 out of hours. A doctor or nurse will come to confirm the death. There is no need to call 999.
In hospital, a hospice or a care home: the staff will do this for you.
Sudden or unexpected: call 999 and ask for an ambulance. The police may come too. This is routine.
Call us when you are ready.
Day or night, a member of the family will answer. We will come and bring them into our care, whether that is in an hour or tomorrow morning. You do not need any paperwork first, and you do not need to have decided anything about the funeral.
Where it happened
What happens next depends on where they died.
At home
Expected or sudden: who to call, and how long you can wait.
If they died at home
In hospital or a hospice
The bereavement office, the medical examiner, and when we collect them.
Hospital or hospice
In a care home
What the staff will do, and time to say goodbye.
Care home
Suddenly, or when the coroner is involved
Why the coroner is involved, post-mortems and inquests.
Sudden death
Abroad
Who to call, and bringing them home to Wales.
A death abroad
When a baby or child has died
Time together, keepsakes, help with costs, and who can help.
A baby or child
When you call us
What it helps to have to hand.
- Your name, and a number we can call you back on.
- The name of the person who has died, and where they are now.
- Whether a doctor, nurse or paramedic has confirmed the death.
- If you know: whether they wanted burial or cremation, and if they had a funeral plan.
Please do not worry if you do not know these. We will ask gently, and anything else can wait until later.
The days that follow
What comes next.
The medical examiner reviews the death.
Unless the coroner is involved, the doctor writes the medical certificate of cause of death and sends it to the NHS Wales Medical Examiner Service. They will usually phone you to explain the cause of death and answer any questions. Then they send the certificate to the register office.
Register the death.
The register office will contact you, or you can book, once they have the certificate. Registration should happen within five days of that point. It takes about half an hour.
Arrange the funeral, with us.
We can begin before the death is registered. We will meet you at our office or in your home, explain the choices and the costs, and take care of everything you would like us to. Nothing needs deciding on the first day.
Tell people, and the authorities.
When you register, the registrar will offer you Tell Us Once. It lets you tell most government departments at the same time, including the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC, the DVLA, the Passport Office and the council. Banks, pensions, insurers and utilities need telling separately.
Look after yourself.
Eat something, sleep if you can, and let people help. If you would like someone to talk to, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free support across Wales, and we can put you in touch with local groups.
Whenever you are ready.
If someone has died, please call us at any hour and we will come to you. For anything else, you are welcome to call, write or call in.