When a Death Occurs
If someone has died and you are unsure what to do next, Bay Tree Funeral Directors is here to guide you calmly, clearly and compassionately.
Available 24 hours a day for families across Leicester, Blaby and Leicestershire.
What to do when someone dies
When someone dies, the first steps can feel confusing and overwhelming. What happens next depends on where the death occurred and whether it was expected or unexpected.
At Bay Tree Funeral Directors in Blaby, Leicester, Samantha Ward and our family team will help you understand what needs to happen, who to contact, and when your loved one can be brought into our care.
Need immediate help?
You do not need to work everything out on your own. Call us and we will explain the next step clearly.
Call Bay Tree Funerals NowChoose the situation that applies to you
Each guide explains the practical steps in a simple way, depending on where your loved one has died.
An expected death at home
If your loved one has died at home and the death was expected, you may need to contact their GP, out-of-hours doctor or the medical professional involved in their care.
Read our home death guidance
An expected death in a care home
The staff will contact the doctor to confirm the death and guide you through the next steps.
Read our care home guidance
An expected death in hospital
The hospital staff will advise the doctor, confirm the death and explain what happens next.
Read our hospital death guidance
A death at LOROS Hospice
The hospice team will ensure your loved one’s death is confirmed and provide support to you and your family.
Read our LOROS Hospice guidance
If the death was unexpected
If someone has died suddenly or unexpectedly, or you are unsure whether they have died, call 999.
Read our unexpected death guidance
What happens next
We will talk you through your options, arrange for your loved one to be cared for and explain the next steps.
Speak to Bay Tree FuneralsPersonal guidance from Samantha Ward and the Bay Tree family team
At Bay Tree Funerals, you will not be passed around a large corporate call centre. You will be guided by a family-run funeral team who understand how difficult the first call can feel.
Samantha Ward and our team will listen carefully, explain what happens next and support you at a pace that feels right for your family.
- Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Support for families across Leicester, Blaby and Leicestershire.
- Help bringing your loved one into our care with dignity and respect.
- Clear guidance on paperwork, registration, cremation, burial and chapel of rest visits.
- Appointments available at our funeral home in Blaby.
The first few steps after someone dies
This is a simple overview. The exact process depends on the circumstances, but we can guide you through it from the first phone call.
1. Make sure the death has been confirmed
If the death was expected, a GP, doctor, nurse, hospice team, care home team or hospital staff may be involved. If the death was sudden, unexpected, or you are unsure what has happened, call 999.
2. Call Bay Tree Funeral Directors for guidance
You can call us before all the paperwork is complete. We can explain what usually happens, who may need to be contacted and when your loved one can be brought into our care.
3. Wait for the medical examiner or coroner process
In England and Wales, deaths are reviewed by a medical examiner or, in some circumstances, referred to the coroner. You should wait until you are told the death can be registered.
4. Register the death
Once you have been told you can register the death, it should usually be registered within 5 days. The death is normally registered in the district where the person died.
5. Begin arranging the funeral when you feel ready
You do not have to make every decision immediately. We can talk through cremation, burial, direct cremation, chapel of rest visits, flowers, notices, service choices and personal touches.
Registering a death in Leicester or Leicestershire
Before a funeral can usually take place, the correct registration or coroner paperwork must be completed.
After the medical examiner process, the registrar will usually issue the paperwork needed for burial or cremation. This may be sent directly to the funeral director, crematorium or burial authority.
- If the death happened in Leicester, it is usually registered with Leicester City Council.
- If the death happened in the wider county, it is usually handled by Leicestershire Registration Service.
- If the coroner is involved, registration may be delayed while enquiries take place.
- You can still call us for advice before the death has been registered.
Why families choose Bay Tree Funerals
Families across Leicester and Leicestershire choose Bay Tree because they want a funeral director who is local, approachable and personally involved.
Family-run and independent
We are not a large corporate chain. We offer personal, flexible support from our funeral home in Blaby, Leicester.
Available 24 hours
We are here day and night to guide families, answer urgent questions and bring loved ones into our care.
Clear, honest guidance
We explain your options clearly, including costs, cremation, burial, direct cremation and personal touches.
Helpful guidance pages
These pages explain the next steps in more detail.
When a Death Occurs FAQs
Who should I call first when someone dies?
If the death was expected, this depends on where the person died. At home, you may need to contact the GP, out-of-hours doctor or medical professional involved in their care. In a hospital, care home or hospice, staff will usually guide you. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999.
Can I call Bay Tree Funerals before the death is registered?
Yes. You can call us at any stage for guidance. Some arrangements may need to wait until the correct paperwork has been issued, but we can still explain what happens next.
When can my loved one be brought into your care?
This depends on where the death occurred and whether the required confirmation and release paperwork has been completed. We can liaise with the hospital, care home, hospice or relevant professionals when the time is right.
How soon does the death need to be registered?
Once the medical examiner’s office confirms that the death can be registered, it should usually be registered within 5 days in England and Wales, unless the coroner is involved or the register office agrees otherwise.
Can we book an appointment to arrange the funeral?
Yes. Please call Bay Tree Funeral Directors on 0116 278 8868. We can arrange an appointment at our funeral home in Blaby, Leicester, or speak with you over the phone.
Speak to Bay Tree Funeral Directors
If someone has died and you are unsure what to do next, please call us. We will listen, explain the next steps and support your family with care, dignity and understanding.
Bay Tree Funeral Directors, 7A Welford Road, Blaby, Leicester, LE8 4FT