What happens first Kathy Miller Many people find it difficult to cope after the death of a loved one and are unsure what they're legally obligated to do. We offer a few tips on navigating this distressing and confusing time.

In this article

Asking for help What happens first?

What happens if the death doesn't occur in hospital? What happens when the death occurs abroad?

When a family member or close friend dies, people often feel completely bewildered. At a time of intense sadness, when you feel emotionally drained, it can be overwhelming to learn how much needs to be done.

If you were the closest to the person who's just died, you might also be the one to whom everyone looks to make all the necessary arrangements for burial and other necessities.

Some people appreciate having lots of practical tasks to do when they're bereaved, while others find they just can't cope in the immediate period after losing a loved one.

There are certain things that you're obliged by law to do after a death, such as registering the death, while other things, such as choosing the music and form of a funeral service assume equal importance, but for more personal reasons.

Keeping a list of things that need doing can be an indispensable aid at such a painful time.

Friends and relatives are usually only too pleased to help. For instance, you could ask a friend with a car to help transport mourners from the church to the wake after the funeral.

Ask a friend or family member to contact several funeral directors to compare prices and help you choose the right quote and services for the funeral. Additionally, they can ensure that friends and relations know the time and location of the funeral.

Your doctor will be familiar with the procedures required when registering a death - and your local Citizens Advice Bureau can also help on a wide range of practical issues.

For information about possible benefits, contact your local Benefits Agency (DWP, Department for Work and Pensions), who will be listed in the phone directory.

If the death occurs in hospital, the hospital staff will contact the person named by the deceased as the next of kin (who can be a relative or friend). They'll also arrange for the nearest relative to collect the dead person's belongings.

The hospital mortuary will keep the body until the executor (a personal representative of the deceased) makes arrangements for it to be taken away. You may also want to inform the deceased's minister of religion - or see the hospital chaplain.

If the death was expected, you should contact the doctor who looked after the deceased during their final illness. If the doctor can certify the cause of death, he or she will give you two forms:

• A Medical Certificate showing the cause of death, which will be addressed to the registrar
• A Formal Notice confirming that the doctor has signed the Medical Certificate and telling you how to register the death

If the death was unexpected, you should contact the family doctor, the deceased's nearest relative and their minister of religion. If you have problems finding any of the above people, the police will be able to help you.

If the death occurs abroad, you should inform the local British Consul who will arrange for a record of the death to be sent to the General Register Office in the UK. He or she will be able to advise on local regulations concerning the registration of deaths. You'll be able to get a copy of the Death Certificate from the consulate or from the Overseas Registration Section in Southport, Merseyside.

If the body is to be repatriated for a funeral in England or Wales, you'll need a translation of the foreign Death Certificate, showing the cause of death. If the body is to be cremated in England or Wales, you should contact the coroners section at the Home Office on 020 7273 3776/2807.