If Death Occurs At Home
1. Telephone the doctor who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.
2. Contact a funeral director.
Certification of Death
Every death in Scotland must be certified by a doctor who completes a form called a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This is also known as Form 11.
3. Arrange to collect the doctor's Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (usually from the surgery).
4. If you are registering the death, you must take the MCCD to the Registrars Office, (together with the deceased's Medical Card and Birth Certificate, if available). A death cannot be registered without the MCCD. A death may be registered in any Registration Office in Scotland and must be registered within eight days of the date of death.
5. Once registration is complete, the Registrar will give you a Certificate of Registration of Death, (this is also known as Form 14), for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. This document confirms that the death has been registered and is required before burial or cremation can go ahead. The Registrar will also issue a white notification certificate for the DSS. They will also enquire as to the number of Certified Copies you require for dealing with the deceased finances (a fee is payable for each copy).
Review of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
National legislation has changed the process of registration of deaths and requires Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to review a random sample of death certificates. These reviews are designed to check the quality and accuracy of certificates and to improve how information is recorded. To find out more click here Death Certification & Review
You can also download this useful Guide for your information Death Certification in Scotland
If The Death Occurs In Hospital
1. Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.
2. Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow 4 - 5 as above
Note For Cremation
Your funeral director will usually liaise directly with the surgery regarding the additional certification required.