Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Need to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order — from £95.
Care home staff verify death and notify family immediately. GP certifies death with MCCD if natural. Medical Examiner reviews all care home deaths (1-2 days, mandatory since 2024). Coroner notified if unexplained, within 24 hours of admission, or following falls. Family chooses funeral director, collects belongings, and registers death once ME approves.
October 2026 Update:
All care home deaths now go through the Medical Examiner system before registration. This has improved scrutiny and reduced inappropriate deaths going uninvestigated, though it adds 1-2 days to the process.
Important: Most care home deaths are from natural causes and proceed smoothly through registration to funeral. However, care homes are required to follow strict procedures to ensure proper oversight.
What the care home should do immediately after a death:
A registered nurse (in nursing homes) or doctor must verify that death has occurred. They check for signs of life and record the time of death. In residential homes without nurses, a doctor is called.
The care home should contact the next of kin immediately, usually by phone. They should inform you sensitively and offer the opportunity to come to the care home if you wish.
The resident's GP is contacted to attend and certify the death by issuing a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), if appropriate.
The care home secures the deceased's personal belongings and valuables, creating an inventory for the family.
Staff prepare the body with dignity and respect, usually moving it to a designated quiet room. Religious or cultural practices should be respected.
How the death is certified depends on the circumstances:
If the resident was terminally ill or had known life-limiting conditions:
If death was unexpected or cause is unclear:
Certain circumstances trigger automatic coroner referral:
What good care homes should do:
What you can expect and request as family:
You have the right to visit the care home and spend private time with your loved one. Good care homes accommodate this at any reasonable hour and provide a private, dignified space.
You're entitled to:
The care home cannot require you to use a particular funeral director. You choose your own, though the home may make recommendations. Beware of commission arrangements that may inflate costs.
If you have concerns about the care provided or circumstances of death:
How death registration works after a care home death:
The care home will receive the Medical Certificate from the GP (or coroner if involved). They should give it to you or your chosen funeral director promptly.
Before registration:
Qualified informants for care home deaths:
Care homes may offer to register on your behalf, but most families prefer to register themselves.
Typical timeline from death to registration:
Certain care home deaths must be reported to the coroner:
Medical Examiner or care home may also refer if:
Understanding your financial obligations:
Care home fees are typically owed:
Many homes manage residents' personal spending money. The home should provide final accounting and return any balance to the estate promptly (within 7-14 days typically).
Notify relevant parties about the death:
You'll need to remove personal belongings by the date specified in the contract (often 7-14 days). Arrange collection promptly to avoid storage charges.
If you're worried about the care your relative received:
If concerns aren't resolved:
For serious cases:
Note: Most concerns can be addressed through complaints processes without expensive legal action.
Special considerations that continue to apply:
COVID-19 can be certified as cause of death without post-mortem if clinically diagnosed. GPs can now certify remotely in some cases, though they should view the deceased where possible.
Current guidance prioritizes allowing families to visit dying residents and to spend time with deceased loved ones, even during outbreaks (with appropriate infection control).
Following pandemic experiences, care home deaths receive more regulatory scrutiny. Medical Examiner reviews are more thorough for care home deaths.
Good care homes recognize that death affects other residents:
Notification: Other residents should be told sensitively about the death, especially if the deceased was well-known in the home.
Memorial activities: Many homes hold small memorial events or moments of remembrance.
Bereavement support: Staff should monitor and support residents who may be grieving.
Different registration timeline (8 days instead of 5) and Procurator Fiscal instead of coroner. Care homes in Scotland follow similar notification procedures but with Scottish regulatory oversight.
Care Inspectorate Wales regulates care homes. Medical Examiner system applies. Otherwise procedures similar to England.
Regulation of Care Northern Ireland oversees care homes. Coroner system similar to England. Registration procedures broadly comparable.
Types of post-mortems, when they're required, what happens during the procedure, religious considerations, and timeline implications.
Complete guide to coroner's inquests, who attends, the hearing process, giving evidence, and possible outcomes.
Step-by-step guide to writing a valid will in the UK for 2025. Legal requirements, what to include, DIY vs solicitor, and storing your will safely.
How to register an LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian. Forms, fees, timescales, and what to do if you need to use an LPA urgently.
How to transfer a property into a beneficiary's name at Land Registry after probate. The AP1 form, assent, fees, and the process for executors.
Ready to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order, and what to do when it gets complicated.
Get started →Free to start · from £95