When someone dies in hospital, the medical staff will guide you through the immediate steps. This guide explains what the hospital will handle, what you need to do, and how to begin making funeral arrangements.
A doctor will confirm the death and the medical team will take care of the person. The hospital will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) — you may need to collect this from the hospital's bereavement office.
The hospital will keep the person's belongings safe. You can collect them from the ward or from the bereavement office. The hospital may ask you to sign for them.
Most hospitals have a dedicated bereavement office or bereavement coordinator. They can explain next steps, help with paperwork, and put you in touch with support services.
You can choose any funeral director — you don't have to use one suggested by the hospital. An NAFD-accredited funeral director will arrange to collect the person from the hospital and begin discussing funeral arrangements when you're ready.
You must register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). Take the medical certificate to the register office in the district where the person died. The registrar will provide the documents you need for the funeral.
All funeral directors listed here are NAFD-accredited and adhere to a strict Code of Practice.
Search funeral directors18 steps covering everything you need to do in the first 30 days.
View the full checklistStep-by-step guide for when someone dies at home. What to do first, who to call, and how to arrange everything — practical advice from NAFD-accredited funeral directors.
What happens when someone dies in a care home — what the care home handles, your responsibilities, and how to arrange a funeral. Guidance from NAFD funeral directors.
How to register a death in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. What documents you need, time limits, and what happens at the register office.
