What to do when someone dies

Contact the GP.

The GP will attend and ascertain that death has occurred.

Call the Funeral Director.

The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from home to their premises.

The GP will contact you to confirm when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is ready for collection.

Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death. This process takes approximately 20 minutes.

Deliver the Green Registration Document to the Funeral Director.

The Care Home will contact the GP.

The GP will attend and ascertain that death has occurred.

The Care Home will call the Funeral Director.

The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the Care Home to their premises.

The GP will contact you to confirm when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is ready for collection.

Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death.

Deliver the Green Registration Document to the Funeral Director.

The attending Doctor will ascertain that death has occurred.

The Hospital will provide an information sheet on what to do next.

Call the Funeral Director.

The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the Hospital to their premises.

Contact the General Office to make arrangements to collect Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and any personal effects.

Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death.

Deliver the Green Registration Document to the Funeral Director.

The attending Doctor will ascertain that death has occurred.

The Social Workers will provide information on what to do next.

Call the Funeral Director.

The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the Hospice to their premises.

Contact the Ward to make arrangements to collect Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and any personal effects.

Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death.

Deliver the Green Registration Document to the Funeral Director.

Dial 999 and call for Police or medical assistance.

The Police will call the duty Funeral Director to transfer the deceased from the place of death to the Hospital Mortuary.

The Police will notify the Coroner that a Sudden Death has occurred.

The Coroner will decide whether a Post Mortem examination will be ordered. The Coroner’s Officer will liaise with you to keep you informed.

Call the Funeral Director.

The Funeral Director will liaise with the Coroner’s Office.

If there is to be no Inquest the Coroner will send the documentation necessary to Register the Death directly to the Register Office.

Make an appointment with the Register Office to register the death.

The Funeral Director will receive confirmation from the Coroner’s Office that the deceased may be released for the funeral to take place. The Funeral Director will transfer the deceased from the Hospital Mortuary to their premises.

If an inquest is ordered the Coroner will issue five interim Death Certificates to you and will send the necessary documentation to the Funeral Director to enable the funeral to take place. It will not be possible to Register the death until the Inquest has taken place.

When the inquest has taken place the Coroner will send the necessary documentation directly to the Register Office to enable you to Register the Death.

A death must normally be registered within 5 days unless the Coroner is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

You can register deaths that occur in Macclesfield at

Register Office,
Town Hall Extension,
Market Place,
Macclesfield
SK10 1EA

The Register Office is open Monday to Friday – 9.00am to 4.30pm (closed 12.30-1.00pm). Saturday appointments may be available on request. Please telephone first to make an appointment on 0300 123 5019.

You can also email the Register Office at macclesfieldregisteroffice@cheshireeast.gov.uk

You may visit any other Register Office in England or Wales, who will send the information you give to the Registrar at Macclesfield. Forms and certificates will then be posted to you. This procedure may take several days to complete.

You should allow approximately 20 minutes for the registration.

It is preferable for a close relative of the deceased to register the death. If there are no relatives, then it is possible for other persons to register the death. Please contact the Register Office for advice.

You must bring a medical certificate of cause of death issued by the doctor who was treating the deceased. If the death has been referred to the Coroner you will be told what to do by the Coroner’s Officer.

Date and Place of death

Full name, surname and maiden surname if a married woman

Date and place of birth

Occupation and if a married woman or widow, the full name and occupation of her husband

Useful home address

If married, the date of birth of the surviving widow or widower

Whether in receipt of a pension or allowance from public funds

A green form is issued for you to take to the funeral director (other procedures may apply if the death has been referred to the coroner). You will also be given a form for Social Security purposes. These are free of charge. The cost of a death certificate is £4.00 each on the day or £10.00 per copy if further copies are required at a later date.

Check to ensure whether there are any wishes expressed in your loved-one’s Will which will need to be fulfilled.

Check to see whether there is a funeral plan or an insurance policy to help meet the cost of the funeral expenses.

Are there any special requests that need to be fulfilled?

Is the funeral to be a burial or a cremation?

Where will the final resting place be; churchyard, cemetery, garden of remembrance etc.

Consider your availability for the date, time and place of the funeral.

Will the service be religious or non-religious?

Do you have someone in mind to lead the service?

Consider music including hymns (if applicable).

Consider any bible readings (if applicable).

Who will deliver the eulogies, tributes, readings etc?

Consider your choice of coffin and casket for cremated remains.

Are limousines required?

How is your loved one to be presented in our Chapel of Rest This can be in their own clothing or a robe supplied by us.

Do you wish to visit your loved one in our Chapel of Rest?

Consider your wishes for floral tributes.

Which charities would you like to nominate to benefit for any donations?

Do you wish for a death notice and/or acknowledgement notice to be placed in any local or national newspapers?

Do you require printed service sheets?

Where would you like the reception to be held, after the service?

Do you require any assistance with memorials and headstones?