In the first few days
As soon as you can, you will need to get a medical certificate, register the death and arrange the funeral.
Step 1: Get a medical certificate
Before you can register the death you’ll need either:
- a medical certificate, which you can get through a GP or hospital doctor
- permission from the coroner that you can register the death (if the death was reported to a coroner).
Step 2: Register the death
You must register the death within 5 days. This includes weekends and bank holidays.
Find out more about registering a death.
Step 3: Arrange the funeral
A funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered.
View our page on burials for more information about planning a funeral.
Visit GOV.UK for more advice on what to do after someone dies.
Bereavement support
Dealing with the death of someone close to you can be overwhelming.
Your GP or your local religious or community group is often a good place to start to looking for support in dealing with bereavement.
The following local organisations offer support to help you deal with your grief: