What to do when someone dies

The death of a loved one is never easy but  Our team are here to help , guide and support you through the practical steps of arranging a funeral.

You can call us for guidance and support at anytime on 01248 352017

Where your loved one died determines the first steps

If your loved one dies in hospital or a hospice
You will be contacted by the bereavement team based at the hospital or hospice. If you appoint us as your Funeral Director, we will make all necessary arrangements directly with the hospital or hospice, to bring your loved one into our care. The bereavement team will organise all the  paperwork relating to the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death and Doctors Cremation forms (if applicable) and will liaise with you directly in regards to obtaining the death certificate from the Registrar in the district of the hospital or hospice.

The Bereavement Teams at our local hospitals:

Ysbyty Gwynedd - 01248 384 169

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd - 01745 534 147

If your loved one dies in a nursing or care home
A medical professional must certify the death. They will either be your loved one’s registered GP, the on-call doctor or a registered specialist nurse. Once the death has been certified, the nursing or care home will contact us to bring your loved one into our care. As your appointed Funeral Director, we will liaise with the Doctor who was looking after your loved one, to obtain the necessary paperwork (Medical Certificate of Cause of Death) in order for you to register the death with the local Registrar.

If your loved one died at home
As with nursing or care homes, if the death was expected it will need to be certified by a medical professional (usually a Doctor). Once the death has been certified, you can make contact with us when you are ready. Take the time you need to say goodbyes, if you wish to do so, then call our team to arrange bringing your loved one into our care. As part of the next steps in the process we will assist you in obtaining the necessary completed paperwork from the registered GP.

If your loved one died unexpectedly
For sudden or unexpected deaths, the standard procedure is for the ambulance service to attend in the first instance. Once the ambulance is in attendance, as a matter of formality, the Police will attend. The Police will collect information on behalf of the Coroner and will then contact your requested Funeral Director, or the on-rota Funeral Director, to take your loved one to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The Coroner may request a post-mortem or inquest depending upon the circumstances surrounding your loved ones passing.

The Coroner will speak to you about their investigation and will ask you to appoint a Funeral Director, if you haven’t already done so. We will not be able to confirm a date or time for a funeral until the Coroner has finished their investigations. Towards the end of the Coroner’s investigation, the Coroner’s office will let our team know when we can collect your loved one and bring them into our care.

If your loved one dies abroad or away from home
We are able to guide you through the process of bringing your loved one home from wherever they have died in the UK or abroad , J P Turner & Daughters also has experience of repatriating people.

Registering the death

Registering your loved ones death is an important step in arranging their funeral and administering their estate.

Registration of a death must be done within 5 days by law, unless the Coroner or other exceptional circumstances are involved. The registered Doctor or, if in hospital the Doctor whom last saw your loved one and who certified the death, will need to send, by email, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to the Office for the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Registrar).