# What happens to the body after someone dies

> First, a doctor, nurse or paramedic confirms the death. If it was expected, you can then ask a funeral director to collect the person, usually before the death is registered. In hospital, the person is cared for in the mortuary until collected. Sudden or unexplained deaths are reported to a coroner, or to the procurator fiscal in Scotland.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/what-happens-to-the-body-after-death/ — updated 2026-09-26 — FuneralFinder

In the hours after a death, it can be hard to know who to call or what happens next. The steps depend on where the person died and whether the death was expected. This guide walks through each situation, from confirming the death to the moment the funeral director takes the person into their care.

## Key points

- **Every death must be confirmed** by a doctor, nurse or paramedic. This is called verifying or confirming death.
- **Expected death at home:** call the GP practice, or **111** out of hours. **Sudden or unexpected death:** call **999**.
- After an expected death, **you choose the funeral director**, and they can collect the person before the death is registered.
- In **hospital**, the person goes to the **mortuary** until they're collected.
- In **England and Wales**, a **medical examiner** reviews every death not investigated by a coroner. This has been law since **9 September 2024**.
- If your **faith needs a quick burial**, tell staff straight away.

## Confirming the death

Before anything else, a trained professional must **confirm that the person has died**. This is different from **certifying the cause of death**, which a doctor does later on the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD).

NHS guidance for London explains that a GP usually confirms an expected death at home, but community nurses and ambulance clinicians can also do it. In Scotland, NHS inform says a doctor or nurse will come to the house.

## If the death was expected, at home

This is often a death after a long illness, where the GP or palliative care team knew it was coming.

1. **Call the GP practice** if it's open. Out of hours, call **111** (NHS 24 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland, nidirect says to call the family doctor, or the on-call doctor out of hours.
2. **Wait for a doctor or nurse** to come and confirm the death. Out of hours this can take a few hours.
3. **Take your time.** There's no need to rush. You can sit with the person, call relatives or ask a friend or faith leader to be with you.
4. **Call a funeral director** once the death has been confirmed, and they'll arrange to collect the person. You can choose any funeral director. See [funeral directors near me](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).

The doctor who cared for the person will then prepare the MCCD. You'll be told when you can [register the death](/uk/guides/how-to-register-a-death/).

## If the death was sudden or unexpected

Call **999**. The call handler will tell you whether to try resuscitation. The ambulance crew will either try to resuscitate the person or confirm that they have died.

- The **police** attend unexpected deaths to establish what happened. This is routine.
- The death will be reported to the **coroner**, or to the **procurator fiscal** in Scotland.
- The person is usually taken to a **mortuary on the coroner's behalf**, and a **post-mortem** may be needed.
- A **coroner's officer** will contact you to explain what happens next.

Sometimes the funeral director who collects the person works under a contract with the coroner or police. The CMA's rules ban funeral directors from **soliciting your business** while acting for a coroner or the police. You're free to choose a different funeral director for the funeral.

## If the death happens in hospital

Staff will support you and explain the next steps.

- You can usually **spend time with the person** on the ward. If you arrive later, NHS inform suggests asking ward staff to arrange a visit.
- The person is then moved to the **hospital mortuary**, where they stay until your chosen funeral director, or whoever you choose, collects them.
- The **bereavement office** deals with paperwork, returns belongings (nidirect says staff will keep them safe and give a receipt) and tells you what happens next.
- A doctor may ask for a **hospital post-mortem** to learn more about the illness. This **needs consent**, and you can say no. A coroner's post-mortem doesn't need consent.

Once you've chosen a funeral director, tell the bereavement office. The funeral director arranges the collection and release paperwork.

## If the death happens in a care home or hospice

Staff know what to do and will arrange for the death to be confirmed. After an expected death, the family can then **ask their chosen funeral director** to collect the person.

You don't have to use a funeral director suggested by the care home or hospice. The CMA's Funerals Market Investigation Order **bans funeral directors from arrangements with hospitals, hospices and care homes that encourage them to refer families**. You're free to choose anyone.

## Checking the cause of death

| | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Who checks** | Since 9 September 2024, a **medical examiner** reviews every death not investigated by a coroner | The doctor issues the MCCD. Some are **randomly reviewed** | The doctor issues the MCCD |
| **Sudden or unexplained deaths** | Coroner | Procurator fiscal | Coroner |
| **Deadline to register** | 5 days from the medical examiner's office confirming you can register | 8 days from the death | 5 days, except coroner cases |

In England and Wales, the medical examiner's office will usually contact you to explain the cause of death and hear any concerns. This is voluntary. GOV.UK says it can take a few days before you're told you can register, and the funeral can usually only take place once the death is registered, unless a coroner is involved. See [medical examiners, coroners and post-mortems](/uk/guides/medical-examiners-coroners-and-post-mortems/).

## When can the funeral director collect?

| Where the person died | When they can be collected |
|---|---|
| **At home, expected** | Once the death has been confirmed |
| **Care home or hospice, expected** | Once the death has been confirmed |
| **Hospital** | Once the hospital releases the person from the mortuary |
| **Coroner or procurator fiscal involved** | Only when they agree. Until then the person stays in their mortuary |

A funeral director's attended funeral price includes collecting the person, normally from within 15 miles of their premises, and caring for them until the funeral. Compare their **Standardised Price List**, which every funeral director must publish. See [how to choose a funeral director](/uk/guides/how-to-choose-a-funeral-director/).

## If your faith needs a quick burial

For **Muslim** and **Jewish** families, and some others, burial is expected as soon as possible after death.

- **Tell staff early**: the ward, GP or medical examiner's office. Doing this before the death, if it's expected, helps most.
- **Urgent release:** national medical examiner guidance says hospitals don't legally have to wait for the MCCD before releasing a body, and encourages medical examiners to help with urgent release, including out of hours.
- **Registration:** many register offices offer out-of-hours arrangements for religious reasons. In Scotland, ask about **advance registration**.
- **Coroner cases:** NHS guidance notes that the coroner's process still applies even when a faith requires a quick funeral. Explain your needs to the coroner's officer.

See [Muslim funerals](/faiths/muslim/), [Jewish funerals](/faiths/jewish/) and our other [faith guides](/faiths/).

## Seeing the person and bringing them home

You can usually see the person at the hospital or at the funeral director's **chapel of rest**. NHS inform notes that some families bring the person home if the funeral will take place within a few days. See [visiting the chapel of rest](/uk/guides/visiting-the-chapel-of-rest/).

## Organ and body donation

If the person died in hospital and organ donation is possible, staff will check the NHS Organ Donor Register and talk to the family. Donating a body to medical science needs to have been arranged before death. See [donating your body to science](/uk/guides/donating-your-body-to-science/).

## Next steps

- Work through the first week: [what to do when someone dies](/uk/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/)
- [How to register a death](/uk/guides/how-to-register-a-death/), and use our [death registration deadline tool](/uk/tools/death-registration-deadline/)
- Choose who will care for the person: [funeral directors near me](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/)
- Understand who makes decisions: [next of kin rights](/uk/guides/next-of-kin-rights/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to call the police if someone dies at home?

Not if the death was expected. Call the GP practice, or 111 out of hours, so that someone can come and confirm the death. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999. The police attend unexpected deaths to establish what happened. This is routine.

### Can the funeral director collect before the death is registered?

Yes. In most cases the funeral director collects the person soon after the death has been confirmed, and registration follows later. The exception is when a coroner or procurator fiscal is involved: the person can't be released for the funeral until they agree.

### What is the difference between confirming and certifying a death?

Confirming, or verifying, a death means a trained professional checks that the person has died. Certifying means a doctor records the cause of death on the medical certificate, which in England and Wales is then reviewed by a medical examiner before you can register.

### How long will the person stay in the hospital mortuary?

Until the funeral director, or whoever you choose, collects them. Once you've chosen a funeral director, tell the hospital bereavement office. The funeral director will arrange the collection and the release paperwork.

### Can we have the person brought home before the funeral?

Often, yes. NHS inform notes that some families bring the person home if the funeral will be within a few days. Your funeral director can advise on timing and on keeping the room cool, and can bring them home and collect them again.

### Our faith requires burial within a day. What should we do?

Tell ward staff, the GP or the medical examiner's office straight away that the funeral is urgent for religious reasons, and contact a funeral director who knows your faith. National medical examiner guidance supports urgent release where it's appropriate, but if a coroner or procurator fiscal is involved, their process still applies.

## Sources

- [NHS inform – What to do when someone dies in Scotland](https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/palliative-care/dying-death-and-grief/what-to-do-when-someone-dies-in-scotland)
- [NHS England (London) – Pan-London expected and unexpected community death response](https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/06/Pan-London-Expected-Unexpected-Community-Death-Response-V1.pdf)
- [nidirect – When someone dies at home](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/when-someone-dies-home)
- [nidirect – When someone dies in hospital or a care home](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/when-someone-dies-hospital-or-care-home)
- [GOV.UK – What to do after someone dies: register the death](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/register-the-death)
- [GOV.UK – When a death is reported to a coroner](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/when-a-death-is-reported-to-a-coroner)
- [GOV.UK – An overview of the death certification reforms](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-death-certification-process/an-overview-of-the-death-certification-reforms)
- [Royal College of Pathologists – How medical examiners can facilitate urgent release of a body](https://www.rcpath.org/static/3590bf7f-a43e-4248-980640c5c12354c4/Good-Practice-Series-Urgent-release-of-a-bodyFor-Publication.pdf)
- [NHS – Post-mortem](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/post-mortem/)
- [mygov.scot – Register a death](https://www.mygov.scot/register-death)
- [mygov.scot – When a death is reported to the procurator fiscal](https://www.mygov.scot/death-reported-procurator-fiscal)
- [nidirect – Coroners, post-mortems and inquests](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coroners-post-mortems-and-inquests)
- [CMA – The Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c8b3c4e90e07439684be6b/Funerals_The_Funerals_Market_Investigation_Order_2021_150621.pdf)