Death occurs at home

This information is primarily for those living in the U.K. (in particular England & Wales)

 

1. DEATH OCCURS AT HOME 

1a. If death occurs at home (or care home) and the cause of death is known/ natural causes then contact the family doctor (GP). 

1b. If the death occurs at home unexpectedly or in suspicious circumstances1b. If the death occurs at home unexpectedly or in suspicious circumstances 

 

1a. If death occurs at home (or care home) and the cause of death is known/ natural causes then contact the family doctor (GP). 

1. Appoint one family member who will liaise and communicate with the GP, funeral director and register office. 

2. Try to contact family doctor (GP) in the first place. If the GP cannot be contacted call an ambulance. The ambulance will contact the police who will arrange for the dead body to be taken to the local mortuary. The GP can be contacted the next working day. If the family doctor (GP) has attended the deceased during his/ her last illness he can legally issue a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD).  

3. Inform your local Muslim funeral director (or local imām), tell them that you have a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). The funeral director will advise you what needs to be done next. 

4. The death needs to be registered within 5 days with the register office, preferably the office in the area where the death occur to avoid delays. A relative of the deceased, someone present at death or anybody making arrangements with the funeral directors can register the death. It takes about 30 minutes to register a death.  

5. Make an appointment with the register office to register the death. When you go to the register office, if available, take evidence of address of the deceased (utility bill, council tax bill). You will need to tell the registrar the deceased person’s full name, time of death, any previous name, last address, occupation, details of any surviving spouse, and if the deceased claimed any state pension or other benefits. The registrar will issue two free certificates: 

• Certificate for burial/ disposal (the green form) this certificate should be given to the funeral director as permission for burial. 
• Certificate of Registration of Death (BD8), also called the death certificate – is completed and used for social security purposes and for probate etc.  

During public holidays or after office hours the certificate of burial/ disposal can be obtained from the registrar of deaths from his/ her home. His/ her telephone number can be obtained from your funeral director. This service is only available in the event of an emergency i.e. if burial needs to take place and offices are closed.  

6. Contact your local Muslim funeral director informing them you have Certificate for burial (the green form) and contact the local masjid/ imām where you intend to perform ghusl and janāza prayer. The funeral director will ask you in which masjid and at what time you plan to perform janāza prayer. 

7. The funeral director will collect the body, have the body stored at local masjid and make arrangements for burial. He will advise you of suitable/ available times for burial, coffin if you require one and the costs involved in the burial process. Paperwork has to be completed and payment made prior to the actual burial process. 

 

1b. If the death occurs at home unexpectedly or in suspicious circumstances 

1. Appoint one family member who will liaise and communicate with the GP, funeral director, register office and coroner office. 

2. Try to contact family doctor (GP) in the first place. The GP may be able to issue a medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) after discussion with the coroner. If this is the case, the coroner will issue ‘A’ certificate (form 100A, also called ‘Part A’), indicating he is aware of the death, no further investigation is necessary and that permission has been given to the GP to issue a medical certificate (MCCD). The coroner may send the ‘A’ certificate directly to the registrar for deaths or you may need to collect it from the coroner’s office to take to the registrar yourself.  

3. If the GP cannot be contacted call an ambulance. The ambulance will contact the police who will arrange for the dead body to be taken to the local mortuary. 

4. If the GP is unable to issue a medical certificate (MCCD) the coroner will arrange for a formal invasive autopsy (post-mortem examination) or a digital autopsy (MRI/ CT scan) or open an inquest. See section 7 Digital autopsy v Invasive autopsy (post-mortem). You can request the coroner to perform a digital autopsy (MRI/ CT scan, also called digital post-mortem) depending on what is available in your area instead of a traditional invasive post-mortem. A digital autopsy will be performed if considered appropriate.

5. After the autopsy has been perform the coroner’s office may issue pink form B (form 100, also called part ‘B’), this is a substitute for the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD). The pink form B is signed by the pathologist working for the coroner’s office. The coroner may send the pink form B directly to the registrar for deaths or you may need to collect it from the coroner’s office to take to the registrar yourself. The pink form B allows you to register the death.  

6. The coroner may open an inquest to investigate the death but give permission for burial to take place by issuing order for burial (form 101). The order of burial does not require registration. 

8. Make an appointment with the register office to register the death. When you go to the register office, if available, take evidence of address of the deceased (utility bill, council tax bill). You will need to tell the registrar the deceased person’s full name, time of death, any previous name, last address, occupation, details of any surviving spouse, and if the deceased claimed any state pension or other benefits. The registrar will issue two free certificates: 

• Certificate for burial/ disposal (the green form) this certificate should be given to the funeral director as permission for burial. 
• Certificate of Registration of Death (BD8), also called the death certificate – is completed and used for social security purposes and for probate etc. 

During public holidays or after office hours the certificate of burial/ disposal can be obtained from the registrar of deaths from his home. His/her telephone number can be obtained from your funeral director. This service is only available in the event of an emergency i.e. if burial needs to take place and offices are closed.  

9. Contact your local Muslim funeral director informing them you have Certificate for burial (the green form) and contact the local masjid/ imām where you intend to perform ghusl and janāza prayer. The funeral director will ask you in which masjid and at what time you plan to perform janāza prayer. 

10. The funeral director will collect the body, have the body stored at local masjid and make arrangements for burial. He will advise you of suitable/ available times for burial, coffin if you require one and the costs involved in the burial process. Paperwork has to be completed and payment made prior to the actual burial process. 

11. Different cemeteries/ grave yards have different latest burial times and some do not allow the coffin to be opened at the grave yard. In such cases it is necessary to ensure the head of the body is facing the Qibla before entering the cemetery.