You Are Not Alone
Many people find the immediate thought of arranging a funeral after the death of their loved one to be quite daunting and that is where we step in. Our aim is to make the process as easy and simple as we can for you during this difficult time.
We have included some points below regarding what to do when a loved one has passed and registering a death.
What to do
Most people are at a loss of what to do in the immediate aftermath of a death. There are different steps you should take depending on where and when the death has happened. We have listed below what these are and what you should do. If you have any worries or concerns, you can contact us at any time.
Death at Home
If your loved one has died at home and the death was expected, you should contact your local doctor as soon as possible. They will come to your home to certify the death.
If the death was expected and occurs through the night, you should call NHS 24 on 111 and ask for the on-call doctor who will be able certify the death.
If the death was unexpected, you must contact the emergency services by calling 999. When the emergency services attend, if they are confident in the cause of death, they will certify the death.
After the doctor has certified the death, we can make our first visit to you.
In our first contact we will have a little chat with you and talk you through the first steps of registering the death with the registrar and answer any questions you have.
When you are happy for us to do so, we will then take your loved one into our care and transport them respectfully back to our funeral home in Inver.
Please note that we cannot attend to take your loved one into our care before a doctor, senior nurse or paramedic has certified the death.
Death in Hospital
If your loved one has died in hospital, you can call us at any time to let us know. We will then get in touch with the hospital and arrange to collect your loved one. We will ensure that we transport your loved one back to our funeral home as soon as possible.
We will give you a call to arrange a home visit when it suits you, when we will give you all the information you need for registering the death. At this time we will be able to answer any questions you might have.
Death in a Care Home or Hospice
If your loved one has died in a care home or hospice, again, you can call us at any time to let us know. With your permission, the care home or hospice can also get in touch with us directly. Once the doctor has attended and certified the death, we will travel to the facility to collect your loved one and bring them into our care at our funeral home.
We will give you a call to arrange a home visit when it suits you, when we will give you all the information you need for registering the death. At this time we will be able to answer any questions you might have.
"You took all the responsibility from our shoulders and your kindness helpfulness and expertise before and on the day of the funeral. Thank you very much for your excellent services"
Sudden Death, Accident or Suicide
If you have lost a loved one to suicide, information and support can be found at
or by calling
0300 111 5065
Sadly, not all deaths are peaceful and happen at home, in hospital or another medical facility. If you lose your loved one in tragic circumstances, such as an accident or suicide, or if the death was sudden and outside of the home, you must call the emergency services on 999.
The police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and may refer the case to the Procurator Fiscal (Coroner in England and Wales). In these circumstances, your loved one will be transported to the local police mortuary where a post-mortem examination may be carried out to determine the cause of death.
If this is the case for your loved one, you can contact us at any time and we will liaise with the Procurator Fiscal and the mortuary staff. As soon as your loved one has been granted release for burial or cremation by the Procurator Fiscal, we will collect your loved one from the mortuary and bring them safely back into our care.
If there are suspicious circumstances, this process may take a little longer.
Whatever the circumstances are, we will remain in constant contact with the Procurator Fiscal and your family to ensure you are always kept well informed.
Death Abroad
If your loved one passes away whist on holiday or travelling abroad, you need to get in touch with the relevant local authority within that country. You can get in touch with us at any time during this process and we can help to assist and you with that process.
We have worked with several different repatriation specialists over the years, who are experts in the field of transporting loved ones overseas. We will liaise with the chosen repatriation specialist, and work closely with them to ensure your loved one is brought back to Scotland and ultimately to our funeral home in the most efficient way possible. We will also keep in regular contact with you as a family to let you know how the process is progressing.
Unfortunately, due to different customs and requirements in other countries, this process can sometimes take longer than families may hope, however, we will do everything within our power to ensure your loved one arrives home as quickly as possible.
Please note that funeral arrangements (such as a date for the funeral) cannot be confirmed until your loved one is back in Scotland.
At W&K Gerrie, we can guarantee that whatever the circumstances, you can count on us to look after your loved one and your family throughout the whole process. We will work closely with you and your family by taking it one step at a time and at a pace you are comfortable with to ensure you are not overwhelmed.
We promise that our family will look after yours to the very best of our abilities.
Registering a Death
The only thing you have to do yourself after your loved one has died is register the death. We will explain how the process works on our first visit and also give you information on Tell Us Once.
We will also contact the registrar on your behalf and pass on your contact details so they can get in touch with you to begin the process. Normally this will be a day or two after the death, to give you and your family time to gather the necessary documents together.
The death must be registered by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 7 days of the date of death.
Those who can register a death are;
-
Those who were present at the death
-
A family member
-
The person's executor or legal representative
-
The occupier of the property the person passed away in
-
Anyone with the information needed to register it
The documents needed to register the death are;
-
The death certificate
-
Their birth certificate
-
Marriage certificate
-
A Government pension certificate
-
Their medical card
If you do not have these documents don't worry, the registrar can still register the death if your loved one was born in Scotland.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
