When Someone Dies

Alfred Smith Funeral Director and Monumental Mason can offer advice and support to families in Streatham, Stoneleigh and surrounding areas

 Here is some brief information on what to do when someone dies, it is not an exhaustive list and we would advise the use of the links provided for further information relating to your own area.

Feel free to print it off, it contains a condensed version of the information here and has a useful checklist section that you can use to help you get things sorted. Many have found this very helpful.

It is best to inform the local doctor as soon as possible. A death certificate may be issued when the doctor visits the house or you may be asked to collect this from the surgery.

The hospital staff will have arranged for the completion of the Death Certificate by one of the attending doctors. If you would like a cremation to take place then either inform the hospital, or contact ourselves so that we can arrange for the additional form (the Cremation Form 4, 5 and 10) to be completed.

If the deceased has not been seen by his/her doctor within 14 days prior to death or has not been in hospital for more than 24 hours or the death is sudden then it is required to be reported to the Coroner. The doctor may inform the Coroner on your behalf.

The Coroner's role is to establish a cause of death, and this may be done by post mortem. Once the cause of death has been ascertained, the deceased will be released allowing the funeral to proceed. This process can take a few days or more. We will then be able to tell you when the death can be registered. Note that if a Coroner's Inquest is needed (death thought to occur due to unnatural causes), this can take some time. We will be able to advise you on this.

If you require any further assistance with the preparations for a funeral, contact us.