Legal Paperwork Obligations
- Regardless of whether a passing happens in a hospital, a rest home or at a private home a doctor needs to certify the death by completing the Medical Certificate of Causes of Death.
- Before we can transfer your loved one into our care we need confirmation that the doctor will sign the paperwork.
- If cremation is chosen the doctor will need to site the person.
Every situation is different so calling us for advice will help clarify what needs to happen next.
When someone passes in a hospital or rest home
- The hospital or rest home staff will contact the treating doctor to organise getting the paperwork.
- You can call us to engage our services, or get the rest home or hospital staff to do so on your behalf.
- We will then arrange to transfer your loved one into our care as soon as possible.
When someone passes at home
- Call the hospice or any palliative care if applicable.
- Then call the doctor to verify the death has occurred and confirm that they will be signing the paperwork.
- Call us to engage our services.
- We will then arrange to transfer your loved one into our care as soon as possible.
When an unexpected death has occurred
- If an unexpected death has occurred contact the emergency services and they advise you on what will happen next.
- Usually the person will be under the coroners care.
- Contact us to engage our services.
- We will then contact the coroner and arrange getting your loved one into our care as soon as possible.
Note: you are not obliged to use the funeral director who transported your loved one into the coroner’s care.