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What To Do When Someone Dies in Kent

Whether it was expected or not, very few people are sure of the processes or what to do when someone dies.

There are a number of practical steps that need to be taken, but you can be assured that there is plenty of help available to make sure that the process is as simple and quick as possible. We have broken down some of the most important tasks below, with specific references to who you need to contact in Kent.

Obtaining a Death Certificate in Kent

Obtaining a death certificate in KentWhen someone dies, a doctor should be called to issue a certificate stating the cause of death, along with a document outlining who is eligible to register the death. If they have died in a nursing home or hospital then members of staff may do this on your behalf.

In some circumstances, a coroner may be involved – this could be because the doctor is unsure of the exact cause of death, or the person has died earlier than expected. Contact details for the Kent Coroners’ Office can be found below, and more information can be found on the Kent County Council website.

  • Telephone: 03000 410502
  • Address:ย Coroner Service Team, Cantium House, Sandling Road, Maidstone, ME14 1XD

Registering a Death in Kent

You must register a death within five days of it occurring. This can be done at any registration point in Kent, even if it is not the closest location to the deceased.ย 

Before registering, you will need to get hold of a medical certificate of death from the doctor. You will then be able to make an appointment with the registrar at any of the local libraries or gateways using Kent County Councilโ€™s online booking service. A list of the libraries and gateways can be found here on the Kent County Council website (under the ‘Book an Appointment’ tab).

People who can register a death, in order of priority, are:

  1. A relative โ€“ by blood, marriage or civil partnership
  2. Someone present at the death
  3. The occupier of the nursing home/residential home/official from hospital where the death took place
  4. The person who found the body
  5. The person in charge of the body

If the death happened in Kent but you can’t attend an appointment there, then you can give the details to any registrar in England and Wales. The details will be sent to Kent Libraries, Registration and Archives who will register the death.

Tell Us Once

When somebody died in the past, you would have needed to report the death to many organisations and government departments. The Tell Us Once scheme is a national service offered by Kent County Council that means you only need to provide details to the Department for Work and Pensions, who will notify all relevant organisations that need to know.

For more information about the Tell Us Once service in Kent you can call them on 0800 085 7308, or visit the Tell Us Once page on the Kent County Council website.

Arranging a Funeral in Kent

Arranging a Funeral in Kent

There is a lot to think about when planning a funeral to ensure that the ceremony is a fitting tribute to your loved one.

Many people enlist the help of a funeral director to help with organising a funeral. You can search for funeral director services from the directories below.