The steps in the process of obtaining a death certificate are as follows:
- GP Direct will liaise with the local Medical Examiner’s office to gain authorisation to write a medical certificate for cause of death (MCCD). This step can take some hours.
- Once authorised, a Doctor at GP Direct will write out the MCCD & this will be emailed directly to the local Registrar Office.
- Relatives of the deceased patient will be contacted directly by the Registrar Office when they have issued the formal death certificate, to collect it from their office.
They will not need to attend the surgery.
Medical Examiner Process
Losing a loved one is never easy and it can be difficult and confusing having to think about what you need to do to register the death when you are grieving.
To help you understand the process below is a simple guide of what happens next and what you will need to do.
1) Phone call from the medical examiner’s office
As soon as possible after the death (on average within 24 hours) the next of kin will receive a phone call from the medical examiner’s service.
This service provides an independent review of the cause of death and gives the next of kin time to ask questions.
(Medical examiners are senior medical doctors who provide independent scrutiny of the causes of death. They are trained in the legal and clinical elements of death certification processes. The medical examiner’s service was rolled out nationally on 1 April 2023 to all community and GP services. You can find out more here).
The medical examiner’s office will be able to:
- confirm your loved one’s cause of death
- discuss the care they received
- answer your questions, and concerns
- explain the wording on the death certificate agreed by the doctor and medical examiner.
If the cause of death is unknown, they will also be able to talk you through the referral process to the coroner (if required).
Following your call with the medical examiner’s office the medical certificate of cause of death will then be electronically sent by the GP/doctor straight to the registrar in the borough the death was recorded. You will then be able to book an appointment to register the death.
You do not need to visit the GP surgery to collect the medical certificate of cause of death.
2) Registering the death
A death must be registered within five days.
To register you will need to book an appointment with the registrar in the borough that the death occurred in. The registrar will need the medical certificate of cause of death to do this.
Please use the links below to register in the borough you need;
Brent: Deaths and funeral arrangements | Brent Council
Harrow: Register a death – Register a death – Harrow Council
Ealing: Register a death | Register a death | Ealing Council
Hillingdon: Register a death – Hillingdon Council
3) Arranging a funeral
A funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered.
There are many things to think about and decide when arranging a funeral. The person may have left plans for the funeral they want, or you may need to arrange the funeral yourself. It can be a good idea to ask family and friends for help. Or you may want to pay for the services of a funeral director, who can take you through the whole process step-by-step.
Whilst planning a funeral, it can be useful to consider:
waiting until you have the medical certificate of death certificate and (green certificate from the registrar for burial or cremation) before finalising any arrangements making any arrangements
if the person has left instructions in their will or a letter about their wishes
letting people know about the death and funeral details by organising an obituary in a newspaper or other.
More information on arranging funerals on GOV.UK