When the deceased's Doctor or a hospital Doctor, certifies the cause of death without referring it to a Coroner, the death can be registered by the Registrar or Births and Death, who issues the Death Certificate. You will need to pay for copies of the Death Certificate.
Sometimes a Doctor may discuss the case with the Coroner. This may result in the Coroner deciding that he or she does not need to investigate, because the death is from natural causes. In light of that discussion, the Doctor concerned may be able to issue the MCCD and the Coroner will issue a certificate to the Registrar stating that it is not necessary for the Coroner to investigate the death.
If the Coroner decides to investigate the death, the Registrar of Births and Deaths must wait or the Coroner to finish the investigation before the death can be registered. This investigation may take time, for instance if there is to be an inquest, so it is always best to contact the Coroner's office before any funeral arrangements are made. In most cases the decision to investigate will not hold up funeral arrangements or sorting out benefits.
The Coroner may issue a certificate, confirming the fact of death and where known, the medical cause of death. Although this cannot be used to register the death, it may be used to assist in the administration of the estate.
Standards of Service you can expect when a death is investigated by a Coroner:
- when a death is investigated by a Coroner, the Coroner's office will contact the next of kin, where known, and where possible, within one working day of the death being reported, to explain why the death has been reported and what actions are likely to follow.
