If someone has died at home, this is what happens next

Once a doctor, nurse or paramedic has formally confirmed that the person has died, there is no legal requirement to move them straight away. You are free to stay with your loved one for as long as you need, whether that is twenty minutes or several hours.

Many families find this time deeply important. You may wish to sit quietly, hold their hand, say a prayer, play music they loved, or wait until other members of the family have been able to travel to the house and say goodbye. Nothing has to happen at a set speed, and no one will hurry you.

If your loved one had been receiving care at home for a serious illness, or was under the care of a hospice, a palliative care team or local district nurses across Swindon and Wiltshire, this is what to do next.

• There is no need to dial 999.
• Telephone the care team looking after them. During GP surgery hours, call their regular doctor’s practice. In the evening, overnight, or at the weekend, telephone the GP surgery number and follow the recorded instructions for the out of hours service, or telephone NHS 111.
• If a hospice or palliative care team was involved, use the direct number they gave you. Many hospice teams provide round-the-clock telephone lines and are often the quickest first point of contact.
• Have the paperwork to hand if you have it. If there is a DNACPR (Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) or a ReSPECT form (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) in place keep these somewhere obvious, such as by the front door or with the person's medication, as these will help the medical professional who attends to verify the death.

A doctor, nurse or paramedic will visit the house to verify the death. This is a short process that formally confirms that the person has died. It is not the same as the medical certificate, which comes later.

Once the death has been verified, the attending medical professional will give the go-ahead for a funeral director to be contacted so we can arrange to bring your loved one into our care. When you feel ready, telephone us on 01793 522797. We can attend at any hour, day or night. If you would prefer more time first, that is absolutely fine - simply call us whenever you are ready.

If a death happens unexpectedly at home, or without an obvious medical cause, the initial process is slightly different:

• Call emergency services immediately: Dial 999 straight away and ask for the ambulance service. The call handler will guide you clearly through what to do.
• Attending professionals: Paramedics will attend the home, and police officers will usually attend as well. Please do not be alarmed by police presence - this is standard procedure for any unexpected death to gather factual information for the coroner.
• Coroner referral: The death will be reported to the local coroner to establish the cause.

Need detailed guidance on sudden or unexpected deaths? For full step-by-step advice on coroner involvement, post-mortem reviews, and how we support families through the shock of an unexpected loss, please read our dedicated guide: What to Do Following a Sudden or Unexpected Death.

When you feel ready, call our team on 01793 522797. We liaise directly with the coroner's office on your behalf to keep things moving as smoothly as possible.

When you call us, we will gently guide you through a few necessary questions, including:

• Your location and property access.
• Whether a doctor or nurse has attended to verify the death.
• Important medical details, such as whether your loved one has a pacemaker or implant.

Two members of our team will come to the house in a private ambulance. They will offer gentle guidance and care for your loved one with deep compassion and respect.

You are very welcome to stay in the room while we attend to your loved one, or you are equally welcome to wait elsewhere in the house or step outside if you feel more comfortable. Both are completely normal, and neither is right or wrong. If you would like your loved one to be dressed in particular clothing, or for jewellery to remain with them or to be returned to you, please tell us and we will make a careful note.

Before we leave, we will provide you with our contact details which you can use at any time. And then once your loved one has arrived in the safe care of our funeral home, we will contact you to let you know.

Since September 2024, every death in England and Wales has been independently reviewed, either by an NHS medical examiner or by a coroner. Here is what to expect:

• Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). The doctor who cared for your loved one completes this certificate.
• Medical examiner scrutiny. Medical examiners are senior doctors who were not involved in your loved one's care. They independently review the certificate and the circumstances of the death.
• Someone from the medical examiner's office will telephone you. They will explain the proposed cause of death in plain language and give you the chance to ask questions or raise any concerns about the care your loved one received. Please do use this conversation, it is there for your reassurance.
• The certificate is then sent electronically to the register office. You no longer need to collect it from the GP surgery yourself. You will be notified when the register office receives the certificate, which is the point when you can book your appointment to register the death. This process usually takes a few days. Occasionally it takes a little longer, particularly if the doctor who knew your loved one best is not on duty. We will keep in touch with you throughout, and we will chase on your behalf where it helps.

Please note: You do not need to wait for paperwork to finish before starting initial conversations about arranging the funeral.

A death in England must be registered within five days of the register office receiving the Medical Certificate. Registration is by appointment only and must take place in the registration district where the death occurred:

• Swindon Residents: Register at Swindon Register Office.

These places are not in the borough of Swindon:

• Cricklade, Purton, Marlborough, Broad Hinton, Aldbourne and Royal Wootton Bassett – register the death in Wiltshire.
• Watchfield, Faringdon and Shrivenham – register the death in Oxfordshire.
• You can also check the council area where the death happened on GOV.UK.

Usually, a close relative completes the registration. You will be asked for basic personal information about your loved one, such as their full name, date and place of birth, last address, occupation, and marital status.

At your appointment, you will receive certified copies of the death certificate, the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the 'green form' needed to confirm the funeral date), and access to the free government Tell Us Once service.

Need a full checklist? For complete advice on who can register, what personal documents to bring, and step-by-step guidance, please visit our dedicated guide:

Registering a Death: Everything You Need to Know

A death is reported to the coroner when it was sudden or unexplained, followed an accident or injury, may be linked to an occupation, or when the cause cannot be established with certainty. It is a routine legal safeguard and not a reflection on anyone's care.

A coroner's officer will keep you informed. In many cases, the coroner establishes the cause quickly from medical records so the funeral can proceed as planned. If an inquest is opened, the coroner issues an interim certificate so you can deal with the estate, and in most circumstances, the funeral can still take place. We work alongside the coroner's office regularly and will liaise with them on your behalf.

None of these are urgent on day one. You can return to this list when you feel ready.

• Let close family and friends know. Ask one or two people to help you spread the news so you aren’t repeating difficult conversations.
• If they wished to donate organs or their body to medical science, contact the NHS Organ Donor line immediately. For medical science donation, this has to have been arranged in advance with a medical school, and the school needs to be contacted very quickly.
• Contact their employer, if they were working.
• Look for a Will, a funeral plan or written funeral wishes. Check personal papers, solicitors, or banks for a Will, pre-paid plan, or written funeral instructions. If your loved one held a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan, please let us know so we can carry out their exact choices.
• Secure the property if the house is now empty. Ensure that doors and windows are locked, cancel deliveries, and ask a neighbour to collect post.
• Care for pets. Arrange somewhere for them to stay, even if temporarily.
• Return medication to any pharmacy. Hand unused medication back to a local pharmacy, do not put it in the bin or down the sink.
• Cancel care visits, meal deliveries and hospital appointments, and arrange collection of any equipment such as a hospital bed, hoist or oxygen concentrator. The district nursing team, the hospice or the equipment loan company will arrange this.
• Financial accounts: Do not cancel joint accounts or utilities in a hurry. Seek advice first, particularly regarding property insurance if the person lived alone or if the property is now empty.

Do I have to dial 999 if the death was expected?

No. If the death was expected and your loved one was under medical care at home, telephone the GP surgery, the out of hours service, the hospice team or NHS 111.

Can my loved one stay at home overnight?

Yes, in most cases, once the death has been formally verified by a healthcare professional. Some families choose to keep their loved one at home for a night or longer. We can advise you on how to keep them comfortable and cared for.

Do the police have to come to the house?

Only when a death is sudden or unexpected. It is completely routine in these circumstances and does not mean anything is wrong.

How quickly can you get to us?

We aim to be with you promptly at any hour, day or night. When you telephone, we will give you a realistic arrival time and we will keep you updated if anything changes.

Is there an extra charge for coming out at night or on the weekend?

We charge £240 for collecting the deceased during evenings or weekends (prices correct as of October 2026).

Do I need to decide about the funeral straight away?

Not at all. Bringing your loved one into our care and arranging the funeral are two separate steps. We will meet you when you feel ready, and the first conversation is about finding out more about the deceased; their likes, interests and achievements, so we can help make suggestions.

What if I am not the next of kin?

You can still telephone us for advice at any time. We will explain who is legally able to make the arrangements and help you work out the best way forward as a family.

Losing someone at home is a deeply personal experience, but you do not have to work out the next steps on your own.

As an independent, 4th-generation family business, Hillier Funeral Service has been caring for families across Swindon, Highworth, Royal Wootton Bassett, and the surrounding Wiltshire villages for over 100 years.

Our support extends beyond the day of the funeral. We provide free, in-house Bereavement Care Services - including support groups and one-to-one counseling.

We also partner with Laurelo to provide compassionate guidance on Probate & Legal Support.

Telephone 01793 522797, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our funeral homes:

• Kingshill House, Kent Road, Swindon, SN1 4NH | 01793 522797
• The Broadway, Whitworth Road, Rodbourne Cheney, Swindon, SN25 3BL | 01793 522145
• 7 Lechlade Road, Highworth, SN6 7HF | 01793 764337
• Lime Kiln House, Lime Kiln, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7HF | 01793 315490