When a death occurs, it can require many different tasks to be coordinated in a short space of time.
In the case of an expected death, the first thing for the family to do is notify the GP, who will need to visit the deceased and issue a Certificate of Cause of Death, along with the necessary cremation documents (if required). If the death has occurred in a hospital or rest home, the nursing staff will tend to everything according to hospital protocol.
If the death is unexpected, a call to the GP is also required – however, the police, a coroner and the Funeral Director contracted to the police will also become involved, to determine the cause of death, provide a Life Extinct Certificate and transfer the body to the care of the Auckland City Hospital Mortuary.
Please note that the family is not obliged to continue the services of the police’s contracted Funeral Director, as they are required only to transfer the deceased to the mortuary.
In all of the above cases, it is best to contact our funeral home as soon as possible, so we are able to arrange a suitable time for the deceased to be transferred into our care and for us to discuss the funeral arrangements. Our typical process, once notified, includes:
